Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. Dear Doc,
I was diagnosed HIV positive in late September of 2003 and was told the infection
occurred within the last 7 months. What tests can give such results? Doctors I've
talked to say no test exists to pinpoint when an infection occurs.
I've tested negative over the years (I'm 42) with the last prior test just under 2 yrs ago.
My concern is in October I was hospitalized with AIDS and PCP. There is a contradiction as I understand advanced AIDS takes years to develop.
Can you help?
While there are some sophisticated tests done in a research setting that can help to pinpoint the time of actute HIV infection, such tests are not generally available in a clinical setting. There is a test in development known as STARHS, which can allegedly pinpoint when an infection has occurred within the prior six months; several care settings are using it, but generally only in conjunction with a CDC-affiliated study. So, based on lab tests, it would be difficult to determine the precise time of your infection, unless you did have the STARHS determination done in a research hospital or other such setting.
In general, it takes 5-7 years to progress from initial HIV infection to and AIDS diagnosis, but these numbers are averages. Some patients will progress faster; some slower. Clinical progression is often more rapid in older patients (we're about the same age.......so, don't flinch. We are "older.") I don't know if you have other health issues that might have affected your disease progression.
If I were to guess, and it would be a guess, I would assume you were infected very soon after your last HIV test, or perhaps even slightly before, during the "window period." I would be interested to know who came up with the seven months ago estimate, and on what they based it. It certainly isn't impossible, but I don't have all the information on hand.
In any case, the fact that you have had a rapidly progressive case to date does not mean that you will not have an excellent response to care.
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