Is An HIV Test Result At 4.5 Months Considered Conclusive?

Posted on Thu, 3 Apr 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 3 Apr 2014 Answered on

Wed, 23 Apr 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I had protected intercourse (one time only) with a sex worker in amsterdam, after that i got HIV scare. I spend 4 months in mental agony and spend most of the times examining my body. To my horror i developed burning feet after 3 months which was on and off and intensified at night time. I took HIV test at safdarjung VCTC Delhi after 4.5 months. It was blood test performed using SD Bioline kit. It came out negative. Shall i consider the test conclusive. Now it has been over 12 months and thought of late seroconversion/ six month window period and false negative drives me crazy. Please suggest what shall i do. I still get burning feet sometimes, mostly when i am stressed

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer: You are safe Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic I am Dr. Kakkar and I have understood your concern. As far as the sexual encounter (blowjob) is concerned it was a protected one and therefore was safe. Most people will develop antibodies that standard HIV tests can detect within 2 - 8 weeks (the average is 30 days). But, there is a chance that some people will take longer to develop antibodies. Ninety-seven percent of people will develop antibodies in the first three months following the time of their infection. So testing after 3 months of risky sexual encounter almost always rules out HIV. In very rare cases, it can take up to six months to develop antibodies to HIV. You got a -ve result after 4.5 months of protected sexual contact. I think that rules out HIV but since you are so concerned you can go in for a repeat test, to cover even the rarest of chances of late seroconversion. I think you are safe. Be well and stay healthy. regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Kakkar (4 minutes later)

Hi doctor, thanks for your prompt response. But can you please tell me under what circumstances people get delayed sero-conversion. Can a normal person with normal immune system also get late seroconversion. Another question is SD Bioline a reliable diagnostic kit. And can burning feet be due to stress or is it peripheral neuropathy

Answered by Dr. Dr. Kakkar (50 minutes later)

Brief Answer: HIV testing Detailed Answer: Hi. 1. Yes, a normal person can get a delayed seroconversion. Window period depends on the sensitivity of the test, more than anything else. For antibody based tests it is about 3 months whereas for antigen based tests it is about 2 weeks. 2. SD bioline is a reliable test. 3. Burning feet is more likely due to neuropathy rather than stress. You can begin with a B complex vitamin supplement once daily for about a month. regards

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