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Helpline
Readers' queries relating to HIV/AIDS will be answered in this section by a special panel of experts including |  Vinay Kulkarni, a physician specialising in treatment related to HIV/AIDS. He is associated with Prayas Health, a care and support organisation in Pune
|  Eldred Tellis is director of the Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust, Mumbai, and a member of NACO’s Technical Resource Group for programmes related to injecting drug users. He has worked extensively in various parts of India and Asia developing and replicating programmes for IDUs
|  Padma Govindan, founder and co-director of the Shakti Centre, a sexuality advocacy and research non-profit organisation in Chennai
|  Magdalene Jeyarathnam, founder-director, Center for Counselling, Chennai
| Click here to send any queries you may have |
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I got tested for HIV infection from Dr Lal path lab. The test conducted was ‘HIV 1 and 2 antibodies combo test including p24 antigen’.
I got the result in 4-5 hours and it says Index level = 0.12 Conclusion = Non Reactive. They charged me Rs 380 for the test. I want to know whether the test performed was only for HIV antibodies detection or for p24 antigen also, as I don't see anything regarding p24 antigen in the test result. Please do not split hairs on this. When the lab has reported that the test is negative, it is negative for both antibodies and p24 antigen. It is intrinsic part of the test, the way it is performed. If it is reported as positive, it may still not be possible to know whether it is because of the presence of antibodies or p24 antigen. But one is interested in knowing whether the person is infected or not, and that can be seen from the result. ONLY PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE DONE THE TEST AFTER THE WINDOW PERIOD WAS OVER. If not, repeat after three months of the possible date of risk. --Vinay Kulkarni
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You are doing a great job but can improve your website by online chat or by providing a forum for immediate answers. What is the ‘window period’ in India? Some say three months and some say six months. Which generation test is combaids rapid antibody test used in Bangalore government hospitals? Have you seen in your experience any test that after thee months is negative but changes to positive after six months? If yes, why it so late to seroconvert?
Thank you for your comments. We hope to start an online forum for immediate feedback. Regarding your question about the different types of tests, we will carry a detailed comment on this later. In the meantime, you may wish to go through our FAQs (frequently asked questions) and other information on the site www.hivaidsonline.in --Editor, hivaidsonline.in
My exposure was on January 1, 2010. I tested on March 29. It is now 5 months, 8 days. And I still feel some symptoms which I heard about from browsing the Internet.
A lymph (I think it is lymph) at the back of my head above hair layer immediately to the right side of the centre line, not very big, which I can only feel by touching it, and little bigger than a black pepper. Ii is not tender nor is there any headache. My doctor told me there was no need for further tests and I am okay and I can move on. My question is: what is the chance of turning positive after the 12 week test. Please help me. There is no need to worry if the test is negative. If you are very worried then get yourself tested once again (as the previous test was exactly after 3 months), and if the test is still negative, just forget about it. Please do not surf the internet for this. The more you search the more confused you will get. Believe us and get going. --Vinay Kulkarni
I had vaginal sex with a sex worker. I used a condom but it burst. I had a rapid test from ICTC Bangalore in the 3rd, 8th, 13th, and 15th week. It was negative but still I am noticing symptoms. I don’t know what to do. I am not getting sleep and I am not able to work. Do I need to test further?
You are not infected so please do not worry and please do not get tested repeatedly. You say you are noticing symptoms but there are no symptoms of HIV infection at this stage. You may have symptoms of another sexually transmitted infection. Please visit a government clinic and describe your problem clearly to the doctor in charge. Unprotected sex with a person who has multiple partners puts you at risk of HIV infection. --Editor, hivaidsonline.in
When I walked in the park and came home I saw the injury on my shoulder. Now I am worried because this injury may get contaminated and cause AIDS because the injury was open. Please tell me, can this cause HIV?
No, this cannot cause HIV infection. You can check our website www.hivaidsonline.in for information on HIV/AIDS. --Editor, hivaidsonline.in
I had sex with a call girl on April 21. Afterwards I saw at the top of the condom there is a little hole. Is there any chance of my getting HIV?
The chances are minimal but you need to get tested at an Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre or laboratory after three months to rule out infection. --Vinay Kulkarni
I had an exposure on March 4, 2010 with a CSW but it was condom protected. But as this is my first-ever sexual encounter I underwent great trauma after that incident. I decided to go for testing and have undergone the following series of tests
1. At 18 days-> p24 antigen, vdrl, HBV from Apollo, all came back negative.
2. At day 26 DNA PCR, HIV 1/2 antibody by Eclia method and Western Blot from Ranbaxy -all came back negative.
3. Day 41 again HIV 1/2 antibody by Eclia method and Western Blot from Ranbaxy, negative.
4. At day 48 VIDAS bioMerieux antibody test from Apollo, negative.
5. At day 57 (8 weeks 1 day) HIV 1/2 antibody by Eclia method from Ranbaxy, came back negative.
I had all the symptoms of acute HIV - I read on the Net. Are these tests reliable or should I go for an ELISA in a government hospital and should I retest at 12 weeks? Are Eclia and VIDAS HIV tests approved by the Indian government as they are offered by the top laboratories in India?
There is little, if any, chance of you being infected. Do not panic like this. You are wasting money on these tests. You may get tested only once after 12 weeks by ELISA and if it is negative, just forget about it. If you are not infected there is no chance you could have signs of acute HIV infection – it is just your imagination. Do not surf the net for this. You could donate money to a charity working for HIV rather than spending like this on repeated testing. See, what are you going to achieve by doing these tests? Negative test during the "window period" has no meaning and a positive test is not going to provide any additional input for treatment as there is no cure even if diagnosed early. Find a good counsellor/doctor who will help you to calm down. --Vinay Kulkarni
I kissed the breast of a sex worker but did not have sex at all with her. Is there any chance of my being infected with HIV? Should I go for an HIV test?
No, there is no chance of you getting infected. For information on HIV/AIDS see our website www.hivaidsonline.in and specially the section FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions). --Editor, hivaidsonline.in
I had sex with a female during her period time with protection. Shall I get any HIV infection? She had given me oral sex also but there was no bleeding from her mouth. We had deep french kiss and there is a minor cut on my upper lip. Is there any possibility of HIV infection? I don't know her HIV status
The chances of acquiring HIV in this manner are very, very remote. But next time please follow safe sex practice. --Editor, hivaidsonline.in
I am a 30-year-old working professional, just married. On Jan 3, 2008, I had unprotected sex with a call girl .On March 8, 2008, I had undergone PCR DNA test from Reliance and the result was negative. On May 5, 2008 I had undergone ELISA also and the result was also negative. After that I had 3-4 times sex with different call girls but with condom.
Now I have been married for three months. I am getting fever for 4-5 days (fibrish filling with temp 98 degree). It comes once in three months.. I am worried. Do I have any chances of becoming HIV-positive after all these lab tests? It’s nearly 2 years. Otherwise my appetite is there, I am not loosing weight, I don't have any rash or pain in the groin area. My worry is can I still become HIV-positive after using condom? And how reliable is the PCR DNA test? A test, ELISA or PCR, after a window period (three months), if negative, should be taken as evidence of lack of infection. If you are worried, even though condoms are safe, you may get a test done after three months of your last contact with the call girl (this is just to discount the minimal risk with condom) and if that is negative, forget about HIV and start investigating the cause of the fever (once in three months looks like its more of psychological origin than anything else, but let a physician decide.) There are many reasons for fever apart from HIV. Until such time that you are convinced, I would suggest you have only protected sex with your wife. --Vinay Kulkarni
I am a 30-year-old working professional, just married. On Jan 3, 2008, I had unprotected sex with a call girl .On March 8, 2008, I had undergone PCR DNA test from Reliance and the result was negative. On May 5, 2008 I had undergone ELISA also and the result was also negative. After that I had 3-4 times sex with different call girls but with condom.
Now I have been married for three months. I am getting fever for 4-5 days (fibrish filling with temp 98 degree). It comes once in three months.. I am worried. Do I have any chances of becoming HIV-positive after all these lab tests? It’s nearly 2 years. Otherwise my appetite is there, I am not loosing weight, I don't have any rash or pain in the groin area. My worry is can I still become HIV-positive after using condom? And how reliable is the PCR DNA test? A test, ELISA or PCR, after a window period (three months), if negative, should be taken as evidence of lack of infection. If you are worried, even though condoms are safe, you may get a test done after three months of your last contact with the call girl (this is just to discount the minimal risk with condom) and if that is negative, forget about HIV and start investigating the cause of the fever (once in three months looks like its more of psychological origin than anything else, but let a physician decide.) There are many reasons for fever apart from HIV. Until such time that you are convinced, I would suggest you have only protected sex with your wife. --Vinay Kulkarni
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