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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

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Exp 50 years

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What Is The Window Period For Pcr?

good evening sir, i'm a 23 yr old female medical graduate from india, during my internship i had hiv infected neddle prick injury,this happened was a yr ago. i had a pcr done then, it came "not positive". in one of the medicine text books, i read that there is a window period for pcr(12) days. igot the pcr done on the 9th day. i'm a lil bit anxious about it could you please tell me about window period of pcr?
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Sun, 25 May 2014 Answered on
Twitter Mon, 26 May 2014 Last reviewed on
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM,
The window period is for HIV infection and not for PCR.
PCR test detects the viral nuclear material.
However, during window period the nuclear material is undetectable in the blood and thus a false negative result can be obtained.
The maximum period for the window period is 3 months or 12 weeks.
Thus, a repeat PCR is recommended after 3 months.
If the test again comes to be negative the infection is ruled out.
However, if positive infection is confirmed.

Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahalk
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What Is The Window Period For Pcr?

Hello and welcome to HCM, The window period is for HIV infection and not for PCR. PCR test detects the viral nuclear material. However, during window period the nuclear material is undetectable in the blood and thus a false negative result can be obtained. The maximum period for the window period is 3 months or 12 weeks. Thus, a repeat PCR is recommended after 3 months. If the test again comes to be negative the infection is ruled out. However, if positive infection is confirmed. Thanks and take care Dr Shailja P Wahalk