Is A Negative DNA PCR Result 12 Weeks After Exposure Conclusive?

Posted on Fri, 21 Nov 2014

Fri, 21 Nov 2014 Answered on

Mon, 15 Dec 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Is a negative DNA PCR result and negative antibody result 12 weeks after exposure conclusive - if PEP was taken for 28 days after exposure?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Michelle Gibson (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
conclusive

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

Yes this would be conclusive.

This particular test would be conclusive after 3 weeks.
The window period is 3 weeks.

The window period of a test is the time between possible first infection and when a particular test can reliably detect the infection.
The window period of the older screening test, the elisa test is 12 weeks but the pcr dna test has a window period of 2 to 3 weeks.

This means that after this time has gone, this test can definitely identify the infection conclusively.
A negative or positive result after this 2 to 3 week interval is conclusive so your negative test result is accurate and does not need to be repeated .

I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar