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From: rqdms@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (Dennis Stockert)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: HIV testing and rape
Message-ID: <1991Jun11.194933.18156@cs.ucla.edu>
Date: 11 Jun 91 18:59:19 GMT
References: <1991Jun10.150619.25217@cs.ucla.edu> <1991Jun10.234032.13610@cs.ucla.edu>
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George Broadwell reasons: 
>Therefore, if the rapist tests negative, it does not mean that the victim
>has not been exposed to the virus.  The rapist could have been recently
>exposed, and not yet showing antibodies.
> 
>On the other hand, if the rapist tests positive, that doesn't mean that
>viral transmission has taken place.
> 
>In either case, the victim must be tested, and retested in 6 months to
>know whether or not he/she has the virus.  Thus the course of action for
>the victim is the same *whether or not* the rapist is HIV-positive.
> 

Point very well taken .... but I'd still want to know if I were the victim. 
The rapist's HIV status might make a difference in my interpretation of my 
own test results and in my long-term reaction.  If the rapist tests 
negative, and I test negative in six months, I might be inclined to 
consider it a closed issue.  If the rapist is positive, and I test negative, 
I might be less sure of the results and have myself retested every six 
months or so to be on the safe side (a process admittedly influenced by my 
own behavior in the intervening period).

Thanks for the clarification.

***********************************************************************
* Dennis Stockert              *  Life is what happens to you while   *
* rqdms@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov   *  you're planning other things - Mom  *
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*  No one that knows me would mistake my opinions for those of        *
*                 any respectable organization                        *
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