What Is The Window Period For HIV Test Post Exposure?

Posted on Fri, 4 Sep 2015

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

Fri, 4 Sep 2015 Answered on

Wed, 23 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : How many tests and after what time period(s) would it take to ne sure one is HIV negative after several high risk sexual exposures?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Muhammad Sareer Khalil (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get tested , repeat after 3 months

Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome

I appreciate your concern

Ac anti-HIV duo serum ECLIA is a 4th generation HIV test, used to detect HIV referred to commonly as the combo or duo test because it detects both the antigens and antibodies against HIV proteins.
WHO guidelines consider this test to be conclusive if it is negative after 6 weeks of exposure.
However, many other authorities recommend to test again at 3 months post- exposure to be sure/ conclusive and avoid the window period confusion. After 3 months, the accuracy of this test is 99.9 %.

Hope this helps

Wishing you best of health

Thanks

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Dr. M.S. Khalil

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