Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
What is the window period for developing antibodies against HIV infection? Is it 84 days (12 weeks), 90 days (three months), 168 days (24 weeks) or 180 days (six months)? Does it ever take longer than six months?
Kindly help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I read your query and understand your concern.
The window period is the time taken for antibodies to develop after the infection and then to be detected by a particular test. The majority of patients infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) develop HIV antibodies within four to six weeks of exposure, and almost everyone develops antibodies within three months of infection. Rare instances of late seroconversion at six months have also been reported in the literature.
With newer fourth-generation HIV testing kits, it is possible to detect the infection even at four weeks of exposure.
I hope I have answered your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards.
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Answered byDr. Ravinder K. Sachdeva
Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team
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