What Is The Window Period For HIV Test?

Posted on Sun, 5 Jun 2016

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

Sun, 5 Jun 2016 Answered on

Tue, 5 Jul 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Sir, I'm 19. I had protected sex with a prostitute at GB road New XXXXXXX XXXXXXX on 3rd XXXXXXX 2016. We did not have oral sex. But after taking off the condom she wiped my penis with a piece of cloth which would have contained semen from other customers too.Also, I am afraid of the condom quality(maybe expired,maybe it contained spermicide, latex or some other quality) and also I don't know if the condom broke as i did not use any lubrication. Also, i have a habit of biting my finger nails due to which i have numerous cuts on my fingers near my nails. While having sex i was holding the girl's bums and I'm afraid my fingers were exposed to the inner lining of her bums. She was stroking my penis and I'm afraid she might have had some cuts on her fingers. I'm afraid I may have contracted HIV and other STI's. Please suggest to me which all tests I need to take apart from HIV 1&2, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Genital Herpes. Do I also have to go for Hepatitis A,B,C , Human papilloma virus infection or any other STI? Please help as I'm really depressed.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are unlikely to have contracted STIs from the mentioned acts.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through the entire details and it does not seem that you could have got infected. However, for peace of mind if you want to get tested, the mentioned tests are enough and I do not think that you need to get tested for something else.

Rather than pleasure of a short duration it is perhaps worthwhile to seek peace of mind by averting such risks which might be inherent to high risk practices. The choice is yours.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (14 hours later)

Do I need to take Hepatitis A,B or C tests? And when should I get tested for hiv? I want to get tested at the earliest. Also, what will be the approximate cost for the fastest hiv test(RNA PCR) in India?
Thankyou doctor

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You can test for Hepatitis B, C and HIV

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. As such you had protected sexual contact and the remaining acts are unlikely to give you STIs. However, if for peace of mind you want to get tested feel free to choose the tests that could clear your worries. Hepatitis A does not spread by sexual route although Hepatitis B and C does and so does HIV. The panel of Hepatitis B, C and HIV Elisa usually costs a few thousand rupees and the reports are usually available in a day. HIV antigens like p24 can be tested thereafter but I do not feel it necessary. It is meaningless to get a RNA PCR done unless you have established viral infection.

Regards

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

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (11 hours later)

How accurate would the results be by testing at 4, 6 and 12 weeks for HIV?

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (12 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Dependable.

Detailed Answer:
The results are fairly accurate and can be depended upon. Negativity in the later weeks would be more confirmatiory in case seropositivity is not achieved in initial weeks.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D