xcheerbabex108 answered Saturday October 4 2008, 3:43 pm: Most HIV tests are antibody tests that measure the antibodies your body makes against HIV. It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the antibody test to detect, and this time period can vary from person to person. This time period is commonly referred to as the “window period.” Most people will develop detectable antibodies within 2 to 8 weeks (the average is 25 days). Even so, there is a chance that some individuals will take longer to develop detectable antibodies. Therefore, if the initial negative HIV test was conducted within the first 3 months after possible exposure, repeat testing should be considered >3 months after the exposure occurred to account for the possibility of a false-negative result. Ninety-seven percent of persons will develop antibodies in the first 3 months following the time of their infection. In very rare cases, it can take up to 6 months to develop antibodies to HIV.
Another type of test is an RNA test, which detects the HIV virus directly. The time between HIV infection and RNA detection is 9–11 days. These tests, which are more costly and used less often than antibody tests, are used in some parts of the United States.
Peeps answered Saturday October 4 2008, 2:00 pm: No.
It is recommended EVERYWHERE that you get at least another check-up in 3 more months, at the 6 month mark, and another one at the year mark (6 months after the next one you will have).
It can take up to 10 years for antibodies to be seen and infection to be found.
There is no way around this. Please be smart and safe now.
Be smart and keep taking the tests, seriously. There is no point in trying to find a way "out" of this situation. You made mistakes and if you do not take precautions your partner and the rest of your family can be "victims" too.
Please keep taking tests every 6 months until 10 years is up. You will be thankful and it will be the only thing to ease your mind.
You'll be thankful if you find yourself with HIV/AIDs in 2 years because you kept taking tests because then you can prevent spreading it to more people. You can inform a partner that you may have infected them then. You can prepare for the "worst" then so you're not going to leave your child without a mother early in life.
Be mature and responsible. Keep taking tests every 6 months. It really isn't so bad, takes little time, and is free in the United States. It isn't going to kill you to keep taking one blood test every 6 months--while having a hidden case of HIV for 3 years, untreated, might. [ Peeps's advice column | Ask Peeps A Question ]
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