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Testing period
Thought this might be helpful to people;
10. How long should I wait to test and what is the 'window period' ?
We know approximately how long it may take a person to produce antibodies to HIV based on years of data, research and advancements in testing.
A person who has contracted HIV may show up positive as early as two weeks after the time they were infected. According to page 11 of the Module 6 Training Manual from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vast majority of those who contract HIV will show up positive between 4—6 weeks after infection.
To obtain a reliable test result, it is recommended that you wait at least six weeks after your last exposure. A tiny number of people may not test positive for three months. These are generally people with pre-existing immune disorders such as chemotherapy patients or recent organ transplant recipients who must take immune system-suppressing drugs. For this reason, many agencies will suggest a uniform three month test to cover everyone.
Testing beyond three months is completely unnecessary.
Here is a chart with approximate accuracy of HIV antibody testing:
Time Accuracy
2 weeks…………………………50%
3 weeks…………………………75%
4 weeks…………………………95%
6 weeks…………………………99%
3 months…………………….100%
10. How long should I wait to test and what is the 'window period' ?
We know approximately how long it may take a person to produce antibodies to HIV based on years of data, research and advancements in testing.
A person who has contracted HIV may show up positive as early as two weeks after the time they were infected. According to page 11 of the Module 6 Training Manual from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vast majority of those who contract HIV will show up positive between 4—6 weeks after infection.
To obtain a reliable test result, it is recommended that you wait at least six weeks after your last exposure. A tiny number of people may not test positive for three months. These are generally people with pre-existing immune disorders such as chemotherapy patients or recent organ transplant recipients who must take immune system-suppressing drugs. For this reason, many agencies will suggest a uniform three month test to cover everyone.
Testing beyond three months is completely unnecessary.
Here is a chart with approximate accuracy of HIV antibody testing:
Time Accuracy
2 weeks…………………………50%
3 weeks…………………………75%
4 weeks…………………………95%
6 weeks…………………………99%
3 months…………………….100%
Are you talking about DUO test for the statistics:Elisa Antibody HIV1/2 + Anntigen p24? or just the 3rd generation of Elisa?
i have 1 question... i took an oral hiv test done...i took it 10 and a half weeks after possible exposure.... i never had any medical problems or had any surgery.... ive been getting sick lately like having sore throats... is it possible from being sick and taking penicilian as medication that it can interfere with the testing and show that you have no hiv antibodies because your sick???
3 months result is conclusive for all except who went through a chemo or had an organ transplantation, drug addict etc. so that his/her immunity doesn't produce antibodies on time. Only these people need to get tested at 6 months. Hope this is clear.
That seems like sound reasoning to me WRT error rates.
Indeed, this same information is available on the Seattle/King county public health website (albeit without the numbers). They recommend testing at one month post exposure and then 3-6 months for totally conclusive result.
Dr. Handsfield reiterates these numbers in a post today on the expert forum.
Indeed, this same information is available on the Seattle/King county public health website (albeit without the numbers). They recommend testing at one month post exposure and then 3-6 months for totally conclusive result.
Dr. Handsfield reiterates these numbers in a post today on the expert forum.
I didn't realize that we weren't allowed to publish the links to other websites. So, I'm afraid I can't direct you to where I got this information. I can say that it was a health-related website about hiv that seemed reliable. As I said, a couple other websites, including this one, with a statement by Dr. HHH, give nearly identical information.
I think that what I Googled was something like, "6 weeks hiv test results" or some combination like that.
Regarding the chart, you wrote, "What does that mean? That 95% of people who will eventually be shown to have HIV will be detectable at 4 weeks?"
That's how I took the information in the chart ~ so another way of saying it would be that at four weeks, only 5% of hiv-positive people would still be testing negative, because the antibodies hadn't kicked in yet.
Since no error rate was mentioned, it seems logical that it's considered statistically insignificant. If there was a +/-25% error rate, or even a 5% one, I believe it would have been indicated. Just reasoning it out, it would seem to me. I took it that, rather than measuring the accuracy of any particular test, it was just providing the accumulated data on when people test positive.
What I found remarkable was that it seems to be the new consensus that you can be 99% sure of your negative test results after only six weeks (or eight weeks, per Dr. HHH), and that at only three months you can 100% sure.
I think that what I Googled was something like, "6 weeks hiv test results" or some combination like that.
Regarding the chart, you wrote, "What does that mean? That 95% of people who will eventually be shown to have HIV will be detectable at 4 weeks?"
That's how I took the information in the chart ~ so another way of saying it would be that at four weeks, only 5% of hiv-positive people would still be testing negative, because the antibodies hadn't kicked in yet.
Since no error rate was mentioned, it seems logical that it's considered statistically insignificant. If there was a +/-25% error rate, or even a 5% one, I believe it would have been indicated. Just reasoning it out, it would seem to me. I took it that, rather than measuring the accuracy of any particular test, it was just providing the accumulated data on when people test positive.
What I found remarkable was that it seems to be the new consensus that you can be 99% sure of your negative test results after only six weeks (or eight weeks, per Dr. HHH), and that at only three months you can 100% sure.
3 months is conclusive. You don't fall within the guidelines for the need to test longer.
ok i just want to know what is the truth.... i got tested 75 after possible exposure and it came out negative thats 11 and a half weeks.. websites be making up weird stuff cause some say 3... then others say 6 and now you telling me 6 weeks????? which 1 is the truth
I have no idea how to interpret the chart you posted.
For example, 95% accuracy at 4 weeks? What does that mean? That 95% of people who will eventually be shown to have HIV will be detectable at 4 weeks?
Where is this information from? And the statistics are meaningless without error. Is it 95% +/- 25%?
For example, 95% accuracy at 4 weeks? What does that mean? That 95% of people who will eventually be shown to have HIV will be detectable at 4 weeks?
Where is this information from? And the statistics are meaningless without error. Is it 95% +/- 25%?
The only place 3 months = 13 weeks or 91 days is the US., all others are based on 12 weeks = 3 months
I had included the website's name when I first posted, but I guess it got removed before it was allowed to be posted (?). I have actually found this same information at three different websites, including a statement here from Dr. HHH.
Scared, you should see it's logical, based on the above statistics, that after week 6, there's a 99% chance that you'll continue to test negative. By 83 days, the chance of staying hiv negative would be something like 99.99%.
Incidentally, did you know that there's a psychological condition where people are constantly and unrealistically obsessed with getting hiv? I would guess it's a form of OCD. Maybe you should Google it ~
Scared, you should see it's logical, based on the above statistics, that after week 6, there's a 99% chance that you'll continue to test negative. By 83 days, the chance of staying hiv negative would be something like 99.99%.
Incidentally, did you know that there's a psychological condition where people are constantly and unrealistically obsessed with getting hiv? I would guess it's a form of OCD. Maybe you should Google it ~
according to mass its after 6 weeks. according to doc hunter and doc hook its after 8 weeks. and cdc for 12. I have more trust in the inbetween then 6 weeks. another couple weeks past 6 is good in most expert opinions.
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