Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Chance of passing infection during testing window

I am looking for some guidance on if one is infectious during the testing window.

For example, if one were to become infected with an STD, then tested for it 1 week later. I am aware that this will not get picked up by most tests as the level of infection has not built sufficiently.

However, would there be sufficient viral/bacterial load to be infectious to someone else?

My main goal here is to ascertain if a test was done for the major STD's (HIV, Ghonorea, Chlamidia, Syphalis) which produced a negative result, is this certain to confirm that said person is not infectious for these, even if there is an early stage infection incubating which the test has not been able to pick up yet?
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
What was your risk? Is this the same encounter you had last November?

You would get an accurate test for gonorrhea and chlamydia at a week, depending on what test you had done. If it was a urine or swab test, that would be accurate.

To get syphilis, you have to have direct contact with a sore, and you wouldn't get that until 10 days, at the minimum, so you are not infectious yet.

If you had a risk for HIV, you would be infectious.

If you are going to keep having encounters that concern you, or have risk, you should really start using condoms to end this anxiety cycle.

Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Hi,

Thanks for the reply. This is a hypothetical situation, no specific encounter.

I am essentially looking to understand if a same-day negative test result can be safely be relied on as there being no risk, or if there is still a risk that the person may still be infectious with something, just too soon for the test to pick it up.
This depends entirely on what infection it is.

Also, exposure doesn't guarantee transmission.

Using condoms prevents or significantly helps prevent STIs. Even if someone tests negative, and you aren't sure that they are within the window period - HIV is 28 days for DUO tests, for example - use condoms. If it's a casual hook up, use condoms.
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the STDs / STIs Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.