What is the HIV test window period for false negatives?

Question

Hello doctor,

Is it possible to test negative for an HIV test in the first trimester and later test positive in the third trimester? My partner is HIV-negative, so I do not understand how I tested positive.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understood your concern.

It is possible to test negative in the first trimester and test positive in the third trimester. This can happen because of the window period of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. This is why tests are done at the initial booking and then repeated for all HIV-negative clients in the third trimester or during delivery.

For your husband-to-be to be HIV negative, it is most likely that he is in the window period, or he may be one of the very rare individuals who lack receptors for the HIV virus. In such cases, even though they may have the infection, the test does not show a positive result.

Please discuss this with your counselor. They will repeat the test for your husband in six weeks and again in three months. As for you, it is important to commence medication immediately to help prevent transmission of the virus to your unborn child.

I hope this helps.

Please let us know if you have any further queries.

Thank you.