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What are the chances of HIV based on the two negative tests?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hi, Doctor,

About a month ago, I had protected sex with a woman and unprotected oral sex with her as well. Then two days after that, I had unprotected oral sex and fingered a different woman. Five days later, I got a low fever of about 99 degrees. The following day I got chills, night sweats, joint pain, and a bad fever of about 102 degrees that broke that same night. The next day, I got a rash that covered my entire stomach, chest, arms, and legs. I went to the hospital, and they told me they thought it was a viral rash.

The rash went away in about 24 hours. I got an HIV RNA and fourth-generation test done ten days after the last incident, and then I got another HIV RNA and fourth-generation test done again 17 days after the last incident. Both came back negative. I tested the woman that I had protected sex with using HIV self test, and she came back negative, but I did not test the woman that I had unprotected oral sex with.

  1. Could this still be HIV? I have never gotten a rash like that before in my life.
  2. What are the chances that this could be HIV based on the two negative RNA tests?

Kindly help.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

See, a rash does not confirm the diagnosis of HIV. A rash is a very common finding in viral infections, and you could have gotten the viral infection from your partner only. Luckily this time the virus was not HIV. The fourth-generation PCR tests are highly sensitive, and hence you do not require any further evaluation.

I would hereby conclude, based on the details, that you do not have HIV. I would also recommend you avoid unprotected sexual exposures as well as indulging with more than one partner. Every time you cannot be lucky like this time.

I hope this helps.

Medically reviewed byDr. Vinodhini J.

Published At February 14, 2020
Reviewed AtJuly 2, 2025

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