Window Period
Once there is a possible risky exposure to the HIV virus, there is a time period when the body is still producing antibodies and they are not detectable by the tests yet. So, if you undertake HIV testing in this period, the result is negative even though the person is infected with the virus. This time period is known as window period.
Recently Answered Questions
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What is the possibility of acquiring HIV through precum in the anus?
Query: Hello doctor, I had a sexual encounter the other night. I received oral sex, and there may have been an instance where his penis rubbed against my anus, but I am not entirely sure if there was precum on the end of his penis or not. He used an Oraquick test and was negative, but he said he has oral... Read Full »
Family Physician, General Medicine Physician, General Practitioner, Pulmonologist, Internal Medicine Physician
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can understand your concern. According to your statement, you have sexual activities with a male, and now you are concerned about transmission of HIV infection. If your partner's precum enters into your anus, there is a chance of HIV transmission. HIV is usually d... Read Full »
I have fever after unprotected sex. Is it a symptom of HIV?
Query: Hi doctor, I have a fever after doing protected vaginal sex and unprotected vaginal sex. Is it a symptom of HIV? Read Full »
Andrologist, Sexologist
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes an illness called AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). One who is caught with this disease does not develop any symptoms until some years after infection. Only some people have unspecific mild symptoms after... Read Full »
Is it possible to cure hepatitis B?
Query: Hello doctor, I am hepatitis B patient. My current status is as follows. HBeAg - negative (0.010), HBV E antibody or Ag - positive (0.031) and HBV DNA quantitative (PCR) less than 17.1 IU/mL. Please advise whether this can be cured to become negative as it is affecting my career. Read Full »
General Medicine Physician, Internal Medicine Physician
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. When both anti-HBe (anti-hepatitis B E antigen) and HBsAg (hepatitis B surface antigen) are positive (HBeAg - negative), there is reduced infectivity and the patient is expected to resolve the infection spontaneously. The Anti-HBe antibodies may be detectable in a chro... Read Full »
Does three months HIV test considered conclusive?
Query: Hi doctor, I have negative HIV, ELISA test on 54th day, 108th day, 210th day and 260th days. May be all tests are second or third generation tests. I also have done an HIV test with the help of home test kit which shows result in 10 minutes. The result is negative. My questions are what are the ch... Read Full »
Dermatologist, HIV AIDS Specialist, Venereologist
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I will answer your query specifically. In your case, the chances of false negative are almost nil. Chances of false negative are high during the window period which extends from three weeks to six months. Usually, a person having HIV has detectable antibody levels by a ... Read Full »
Is retest necessary after a negative fourth generation antigen-antibody test?
Query: Hello doctor, I had two sexual encounters with women whom I do not know their HIV status. Both were vaginal and a condom was worn. In the fourth and fifth weeks, I had a fourth-generation antibody-antigen test performed and it came back negative. Should I be retested again? Read Full »
General Medicine Physician, Internal Medicine Physician
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. It is a good idea to get repeat testing, here is why. The antibody testing at the fourth and fifth weeks can give you some idea of the HIV (human immuno deficiency virus) status, but the one at 12 weeks after the exposure will confirm the negative status completely.... Read Full »
Is p24 HIV test conclusive after 28 days of exposure?
Query: Hello doctor, I am a 30-year-old man. Recently, I was tested for complete STD checkup with TORCH test. I have a few doubts: Are HIV 1 and 2 with p24 duo test after 28 days window period conclusive? My result is nonreactive. I got a positive result for rubella. CMV and HSV 1 and 2 IgG positive but... Read Full »
Dermatologist, HIV AIDS Specialist, Venereologist
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Fourth generation p24 anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) antibody is conclusive after a window of two to three weeks. So a negative result at 28 days is reliable. A positive IgG (immunoglobulin G) for HSV (herpes simplex virus) 1 and 2 means you have an old in... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor, My doctor has recommended western blot for HIV-1 and HIV-2 as a screening test. The RIBA test was negative for HIV, after 16 weeks of exposure. I also had a negative CMIA test, after 12 weeks post exposure. Hepatitis and STD panel are also negative. Is a negative western blot 100 % ac... Read Full »
HIV AIDS Specialist
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Western blot is highly sensitive and specific test, which is run after a repeatedly reactive ELISA or HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) rapid test. Western blot test is not used as a diagnostic test in the absence of an initial positive screening test, due to the rar... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor,Is the window period for HIV more extended when the symptoms of acute infection take a long time to show? I was tested for HIV by rapid test at 10 and 15 weeks after exposure (both negative), but have symptoms by week 9, and worse symptoms by the 13th week. Can I be calm with these resu... Read Full »
HIV AIDS Specialist
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. The symptoms of acute HIV infection appear relatively for a short duration and resolve within a few days. These can appear anywhere around two to six weeks. Your signs at nine weeks could be a coincidental finding, and there could be numerous causes for the symptoms.... Read Full »
Query: Hi doctor,I had one sexual incidence. After 175 and 180 days, I got tested with CMIA technique. Please check my reports and suggest whether these are conclusively negative. How accurate is CMIA test? Read Full »
Pathologist
Answer: Hello,Welcome to icliniq.com.Both the tests show a non-reactive result, which indicates that your reports are fine.Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) test is a reliable, accurate and standard method. It tests for P24 antigen as well as antibodies to HIV1 and 2. The accuracy of this te... Read Full »
I have severe body pain. Is it a symptom of HIV?
Query: Hello doctor,What is the window period for HIV? I was tested negative on the 95th day after a possible exposure. But, I have all symptoms, like headaches, increase appetite, weight gain, body pains, and a blood vessel broke in my eye. I am having a lot of body pain. What are the symptoms of HIV? Pl... Read Full »
HIV AIDS Specialist
Answer: Hi,Welcome to icliniq.com.The window period is the time taken for antibodies to develop against infection and get detected by a test. During the window period, the test might come false negative, even though a person might be infected. But, your HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) negative result at ... Read Full »
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