window period

[binni_makin]

hi, iam 23 yrs old. i wanted to get my hepatitis b test but i could not wait for 3 months. its been more then 1 month since i last had sex. my doc said i can go for qualitative pcr test. it can give accurate results after 72 hours and since its been more then 1 month so i can be 100 % sure about the result. so i took the test and my result came non-detective (negative). so can i b 100% sure about the test or should i wait and get another test after 3 months. plz help.

[binni_makin]

hi Jakied, can u plz confirm me my last post. i wrote about Qualitative and Quantitative PCR test. also can u plz tell me that i got Qualitative PCR for Hepatitis B after 8 weeks and 6 days of possible exposure. so do i need any other test after 3 months?

[binni_makin]

hi, bram. i asked my doctor he told me that Quantitative PCR is used to see how much virus load is there in your blood. but, Qualitative PCR only tells if one is positive or negative. he me that its a 3 way step- ones virus enters ur body it makes anitgent which can be detected after 30 days then antigent makes antibodys which can be detected from 3 months to 6months. Qualitative PCR checks for the DNA of virus which can be detected after 72 hours. if there is no virus then, there can be no antigent form and if there is no antigent then there can be no antibodys form. so if one does not want to wait for 3 months for anitobody test then he can go for either Qualitative PCR after 72 hours or Antigent test after 1 month and if Qualitative PCR test is positive then they do Quantitative PCR to see the amount of virus in blood. People dont really go for Qualitative PCR test coz 1st its expensive and u wont find it in normal lab. u'll have to go to hospital to get this test.

iam sending you the link go at the bottom of the page it will tell you the different between Qualitative and Quantitavie PCR test.
http://www.hon.ch/Library/Theme/HepB/tests.html#QUALITATIVE%20PCR

All i wanted to do was to confirm this information. since, its always better to take 2nd opinion.

[bram44]

Seems you don't know what you want. Or should I say, you are looking for someone to tell you, that everything is ok.

Since you mentioned you contacted a doctor, why don't you ask him and educate everyone here ?

DNA PCR test is to see how much virus is in your body. Once virus enters the body there is no turning back - either it needs to be cleared naturally or through medication. There is no way to increase or decrease **window** size.

[binni_makin]

hi bram, u r right that Incubation period is 30days to 180 days in Hepatitis B. but, thats for Antibodys to form. Im not even talking about antibody test. im talking about DNA PCR. which comes first then comes antigent and at last antibodys r form. Doctors say if one wants to cut short there window period then they can go for DNA PCR or antigent test which r form much b4 anitbodys. if u know something about DNA PCR test and its window period then plz let me know.
Regards.

[bram44]

Get yourself tested again, if you want to be sure. No one can give an answer with 100% certainity that 8 weeks 6 days is enough.

This virus has unpredictable pattern. Incubation period is 30days to 180 days. So the window period is 30-180 days.

Once getting exposed, either your body will fight it and create anti-bodies (natural immunity) or become acute (need treatment).

[binni_makin]

hi bram, link u send me talks about what Hepatitis is ia all about, how it is spread, its treatment and all. i know all that. i just wanted to know window period. u said its 12weeks. now, 12 weeks is for Antibody test or DNA PCR ? iam asking about DNA PCR TEST which i got after 8weeks and 6days. is this test reliable?

[bram44]

Let us go through the steps:

1. A person comes in contact with the virus.

2. A person gets infected with virus (acute)

Is your question : what is the "duration" between '1' and '2'.

Once the virus enters the body through bloodstream, it finds a home in liver cells and start multiplying.

Please see the following link (sorry I am referring to yet another link) :
http://hepatitis.emedtv.com/hepatitis-b/hepatitis-b-causes.html

Getting tested after 12 weeks makes more sense (general incubation period).

[binni_makin]

hi, steven. iam well awared about all the std's iam just worried about Hepatitis B at the min. all i wanted to ask was i got tested through Qualitative PCR test for Hepatitis B after 8 weeks and 6 days of exposure and my test result came fine. its was non-detected. so, do i now have to go for antibody test or this test is sufficient? and no1 seems to have clear cut answer here. some say something else some say something else. no site no forum gives clear and same answer on window period. some say in antibody test 1 have to wait for 3 months some say its 6 months. in DNA PCR test some say window period is of 72 hours, some say its 28 days, some say its 7 weeks other say its 9 weeks. i really dont understand window period is most important thing to understand and know. y no1 have any answer to it? y every1 have so much different informations? my doctor said 72 hrs r more then sufficient for Hepatitis B to get detected through DNA PCR test. but here every1 seems to have different opinions and no1 gives clear answer.

[stevenNYer]

"About 1 of 2 patients will no longer be infectious by 7 weeks after onset of symptoms, and all patients who do not remain chronically infected will be HBsAg-negative by 15 weeks after onset of symptoms."

It's probably the comma that threw you off.  So let me try to help.  Here it goes.

About 1 of 2 patients will no longer be infectious by 7 weeks after onset of symptoms.
All patients who do not remain chronically infected will be HBsAg-negative by 15 weeks after onset of symptoms.

There.  If still confused, please refer to my previous comment.  Let me paste it here so you don't have to scroll up:

Google "safe sex".  If you have "windows" questions...you are not ready for sex.  Your hormones are writing a checks that your brain can't cash.  That is the only explaination why you would put yourself (and your partner) at risk.  The anxiety that results from risky behavior can't be resolved at this forum.  Talk to your doctor about STDs since HepB is just one of the many STDs.

You're welcome.

[binni_makin]

hi sharp, the thing is all the links u have send me have same information and i could not understand the meaning of the line i send u. all the links you send me say this. there4 i wanted to know the meaning of it. if u can still tell me its meaning then it will be great.
thanks.

[Sharp7]

I'll do better next time ;-)

[stevenNYer]

"I think I have provided enough relevant info and links already."

No you haven't...I expected more from you...that is no way to sign off on a "window" question.  You know how I love these "window" questions...lol.

Now, as for the real answer.  it is (drumroll, please).......
to google "safe sex".  If you have "windows" questions...you are not ready for sex.  Your hormones are writing a checks that your brain can't cash.  That is the only explaination why you would put yourself (and your partner) at risk.  The anxiety that results from risky behavior can't be resolved at this forum.  Talk to your doctor about STDs since HepB is just one of the many STDs.

[Sharp7]

sorry, I do not wish to explain further. I think I have provided enough relevant info and links already.

[binni_makin]

hi sharp, plz tell me wat does that means

[binni_makin]

can u plz tell me what does this mean? About 1 of 2 patients will no longer be infectious by 7 weeks after onset of symptoms, and all patients who do not remain chronically infected will be HBsAg-negative by 15 weeks after onset of symptoms.

[Sharp7]

http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/HBV/HBVfaq.htm

scroll down to "How long does it take for blood to test HBsAg-positive after exposure to HBV?"

The video was meant for doctors, not for patients. If that was not right for you, I'm sure you can google for info.

[binni_makin]

hi sharp, i watched that video. but i could not make much of sence out of it. its so confusing. first she is saying most people develope antigen and dna within 1-9 weeks and can b tested. then she is saying most people test negative after 7 weeks of getting symptoms in antigen test or will test negative after 15 weeks of getting symptoms in dna test. what does it means? even in antibody test some say window period is of 3 months some say its of 6 months. is'nt there any easy way of knowing the window period. my doc said in dna test one can know exact result after 72 hrs. but here on this site information is totally different. its been 2 months now and iam allready getting mad. if i'll have to wait for 6 months i'll totally go crazy thinking about it. i dont know what to do and whom to ask. once virus eneters ur body then how can DNA becomes negative after sometime? it should there. i dont understand. wats the average window period? and what should i do?

[Sharp7]

watch the video on acute hep b. Not the one on chronic hep b.

[binni_makin]

hi sharp, first of all thanks for ur help. it was great of u to help others like this. Anyways, coming back to d topic......i really cant find information on window periods of different test on the linked u send me. in there tutorial on testing for Hepatitis B they tell about who n why 1 should get take the test and other infos on Hepatitis B. but, nothing is said about window period. Dont know what to do n whom to ask? its driving me crazy.

[Sharp7]

I do not know of any qualitative PCR. We do use quantitative PCRs though -- to find out to what amount the virus has proliferated.

Do go through  http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/Resources/Professionals/Training/Serology/training.htm

Watch their tutorial on testing for Hepatitis B.

[binni_makin]

hey thanks for ur help. but i dont understand if one have to wait for 9 weeks in PCR test also then whats the point of getting this expensive test and my doctor said that it can give results after 72 hours. now what u suggest i should do? i got this test after 8 weeks 6 days.

[Sharp7]

9 weeks from the date of exposure is the recommended period for a test.