Hi doctor,
I am a 26-year-old male. I had three protected sexual exposures eight years ago with female sex workers and one protected sexual exposure five years ago with a female sex worker. From then till now there was no sexual exposure. I was feeling good and I had no problem regarding sexual exposure. But three years ago I developed COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease of 2019) phobia and started symptoms like palpitations, weakness, a burning sensation in my hands, and a low mood. So I consulted a psychiatrist and took medicine. I felt good in the next two-three months but in that period I lost three kilograms of weight. I thought that it was due to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). I searched for symptoms of HIV on the internet. For the last two years, I am experiencing symptoms like a burning sensation in my hands, feet, legs, and thighs, weakness, low mood, and concentration issues. So I started testing myself for HIV with HIV rapid test kits. Till now I tested myself with five different manufacturers' rapid test kits. I tested with 40 rapid test kits and the result came to be negative. Is this result conclusive after eight or nine years of sexual exposure? Please answer my following questions. Can a rapid HIV test detect HIV infection if sexual exposure occurred nine years back? Is the test I performed accurate and conclusive and am I 100 % HIV-negative? I tested with the whole blood finger prick method, can HIV antibodies be in the same amount as in whole blood, serum, and plasma? Is whole blood gives an accurate result like a serum specimen? Do the symptoms I mentioned above resemble the last-stage symptoms of HIV infection? I am experiencing these symptoms for the last 1.5 years. Do you think these are last-stage HIV symptoms? In the last three to four years I do not have a long period of fever, diarrhea, or something. I only have the above-mentioned symptoms. I fear testing in the laboratory because I think that the result will change if I test in the laboratory. So I continuously tested with home-based HIV test kits. I had done multiple HIV rapid tests appropriately 40 times with 40 test kits and all were negative. If I test in the laboratory with ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) what will be the result? I am going through huge anxiety every day and these symptoms continue. I want treatment for this and I am collecting the courage to test with ELISA. Will the ELISA result be negative or positive? I performed HIV rapid test with the manufacturer's instructions. It was written that 20 ul of blood sample is needed for the test. Sometimes I draw 20 ul of the sample with a dropper, sometimes I use one drop of blood or half a drop of blood and the result came negative. Is this the correct procedure? I read somewhere that in the last stage of HIV, HIV antibodies will not be detected. Is this true? I only have the above symptoms, not any other serious symptoms. If I am negative for HIV, why I am experiencing these symptoms continuously? I am attaching my CBC (Complete Blood Count) report. Please look at it and tell me if you find anything suggestive of immunosuppression in that report. Please tell me whether I need other HIV tests.
Thank you.