Recently Answered Questions
All the answers published in this website are written by verified medical doctors, therapists and health experts. The Content has been moderated by iCliniq medical review team before publication. Post your medical clarifications on iCliniq by choosing the right specialty and get them answered. Your medical queries will be answered 24/7 by top doctors from iCliniq.
Can I rely upon HIV RNA test result taken on 8th and 16th day of possible exposure?
Query: Hello doctor, I am in 24th-day post possible HIV(Human Immunodeficiency Virus) exposure. It was a broken condom with a sex worker. On day 6 I started experiencing pain in my legs which has continued until this day. I have also gone through a period of intense stomach gurgling, and shoulder and neck ... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. The test which you underwent on day 8 and 16 was definitely the best available test for that duration and you can surely rely upon the results. This test is highly sensitive for this duration to catch the infection if there had been any exposure. As far as the timing of t... Read Full »
My HIV test was negative and I have no symptoms. How to proceed?
Query: Hello doctor, I engaged in sexual activity with a sex worker, and during the encounter, the condom tore towards the end. I am now experiencing heightened anxiety, along with numbness throughout my body and body aches. On day nine post-exposure, I took an HIV RNA test, and the result came back neg... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The risk of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) transmission in this scenario is considered low. While your initial HIV RNA test at 7 days returned negative, it might have been too early for an accurate result. The optimal time to detect infection with HIV RNA i... Read Full »
I contracted a fungal infection post-sex. Please help.
Query: Hello doctor, I had a protected sexual encounter with a CSW (Community Sex Worker) The very next day I found little white non raised dots on the head of my penis. The dermatologist told me that it was a fungal infection and prescribed Ketoconazole cream and Fluconazole tablet. However, I have unde... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Firstly, if the condom had been used consistently and correctly and it did not break or slip off then the chances of acquisition of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) or any other STI (sexually transmitted infections) is nonexistent. Another reassuring point is that yo... Read Full »
My CD4/CD8 ratio is 1.06. Does it mean I have HIV infection?
Query: Hello doctor, I had a potential high-risk exposure due to unprotected intercourse four months ago, and I am concerned about the possibility of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection. I underwent tests including a fourth generation PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), PCR for HIV2, and viral load, ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and understood your concern. A negative fourth generation test and HIV RNA (Ribonucleic acid) PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) at four months provide highly conclusive evidence that you are HIV negative. Diarrhea and joint pains can have various causes... Read Full »
Is HIV test at three months conclusive?
Query: Hi doctor, After three months of unprotected exposure, I got tested for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), and it is negative. What are the chances of getting a positive HIV result after three months? I got to know that in some rare cases it takes up to six months to show antibodies. In which condi... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. The test which you underwent at three months is highly conclusive. But as far as retesting at six months is concerned, here is your answer. The majority of people who are infected with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) will have a detectable level of anti-HIV antibodies... Read Full »
Can an HIV test turn from negative to positive?
Query: Hello doctor,I had a 13-day HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, a 28-day antibody test, and a fifth-week HIV fourth-generation duo test. All the tests came back negative. What are my chances of still encountering an HIV-positive test? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Unprotected vaginal intercourse carries a risk of 4 in 10,000 exposures. Approximately 95 % of the people who are infected with HIV develop HIV antibodies by four to six weeks of exposure, and almost all who are infected with HIV develop HIV ... Read Full »
Can unprotected oral sex cause a risk of having HIV?
Query: Hi doctor, I spent three nights with a girl I met online a week ago. There was no intercourse, but we had unprotected oral sex, mutual masturbation, and kissing. I later found out that she has had a pretty crazy sexual history (unprotected anal sex and vaginal sex). Am I at risk of HIV (Human Immuno... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Unprotected oral sex carries negligible to low risk for HIV acquisition especially if there are fresh cuts or sores or lesions or bleeding gums. Mutual masturbation and kissing are quite safe. Rubbing vagina without entry, I do not think will cause any harm. Overall, I ... Read Full »
Query: Hi doctor,I would like to know if having sex with a girl during her window period or the first day of the window period when she has not created enough antibodies can infect me. What will be my window period? Will it be three months? Do I have to wait for her window period to complete for mine to st... Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have read the query, and I can understand your concern. The window period is the time for antibodies to develop after infection and then to be detected by a test. It differs for each individual as there is natural variation in the time taken by a particular person to... Read Full »
Do I have a risk of HIV after a tainted gauze was put on a wound?
Query: Hello doctor, I had a car accident and had a serious bleeding wound on my knee with a size of 2.36 inch x 2.36 inch. I went to an emergency room in a small hospital in a rural area to get treatment. The nurse cleaned my wound and it was bleeding. After cleaning the wound, the nurse used a gauze pad ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, We will pay close attention to your worries and address all of your questions with utmost care. Your risk of acquisition of HIV is non-existent in this scenario. Firstly gauze pads are unlikely to be reused. These are discarded after a single use. The other important thing to note is that HI... Read Full »
I want to get an HIV test. Please help.
Query: Dear doctor, Which is the primary blood test for HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus)? Is it fasting or non-fasting? I want to get tested for a routine checkup. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The recommended primary test for HIV detection is the fourth generation HIV rapid test. You need not be fasting for this test. If there is a recent exposure and the test result comes negative, a confirmatory test needs to be done at three months of last exposure. Read Full »