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What Is The Window Period For HIV Transmission After Exposure?
Question: What is the window period for HIV
Brief Answer:
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to HealthcareMagic.
After the HIV virus enter the body it starts to replicate .The immune system will produce antibodies to fight this infection.
Many HIV test work by detecting these antibodies in blood.The body needs some time to produce enough antibodies that can be detected in these tests.
This is called window period for HIV infection and it may vary from 3-6 months.
Usually the majority of infected persons (99%) will have enough antibodies in blood to test positive within 1 month after exposure.
During window period ,it is possible to have a falls negative result (you result negative even if you are infected) because antibodies might haven't formed yet or they are in a undetectable level.
For this reason if HIV tests after 1-2 moths of exposure result negative ,it is necessary to repeat the test again 6 months after exposure.
If this test is negative ,then it is 100% sure that the person isn't infected with HIV.
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have other questions or doubts to clarify.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena Murati
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome to HealthcareMagic.
After the HIV virus enter the body it starts to replicate .The immune system will produce antibodies to fight this infection.
Many HIV test work by detecting these antibodies in blood.The body needs some time to produce enough antibodies that can be detected in these tests.
This is called window period for HIV infection and it may vary from 3-6 months.
Usually the majority of infected persons (99%) will have enough antibodies in blood to test positive within 1 month after exposure.
During window period ,it is possible to have a falls negative result (you result negative even if you are infected) because antibodies might haven't formed yet or they are in a undetectable level.
For this reason if HIV tests after 1-2 moths of exposure result negative ,it is necessary to repeat the test again 6 months after exposure.
If this test is negative ,then it is 100% sure that the person isn't infected with HIV.
Hope it helps.
Let me know if you have other questions or doubts to clarify.
Take care.
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Brief Answer:
Don't need further tests.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Since you have done 4th generation test 7 months after exposure and it was negative then you are not infected.You are HIV negative and and this is 100% sure.
Since it is a combined test that detect at the same time antibodies to HIV infection and the presence of HIV virus in blood ,this test is pretty accurate and safe.
There is no way that this test would result negative 7 months after exposure if you are infected.
You don't need to worry ,you aren't infected and this is conclusive. You don't need to do further test.
Symptoms of HIV infection that may occur 1-2 months after infection ,also called primary infection (fever ,swollen lymph nodes ,headaches )are unspecific for HIV.
Many other infections can cause such symptoms including flu ,common cause ,EBV ,Mononucleosis etc.
One thing is sure that your symptoms wasn't due to HIV.
Consult an physician and get examined to rule out infections like Mononucleosis ,EBV etc.
If these infection are excluded and the swollen lymph nodes persist ,you may need to run a biopsy of these lymph nodes to determine the cause.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
Don't need further tests.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again!
Since you have done 4th generation test 7 months after exposure and it was negative then you are not infected.You are HIV negative and and this is 100% sure.
Since it is a combined test that detect at the same time antibodies to HIV infection and the presence of HIV virus in blood ,this test is pretty accurate and safe.
There is no way that this test would result negative 7 months after exposure if you are infected.
You don't need to worry ,you aren't infected and this is conclusive. You don't need to do further test.
Symptoms of HIV infection that may occur 1-2 months after infection ,also called primary infection (fever ,swollen lymph nodes ,headaches )are unspecific for HIV.
Many other infections can cause such symptoms including flu ,common cause ,EBV ,Mononucleosis etc.
One thing is sure that your symptoms wasn't due to HIV.
Consult an physician and get examined to rule out infections like Mononucleosis ,EBV etc.
If these infection are excluded and the swollen lymph nodes persist ,you may need to run a biopsy of these lymph nodes to determine the cause.
Take care,
Dr.Rovena
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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