Sir my exposure was on 16th may. So I want to know the exact windows period to be hiv tested. Many hiv specialists are saying different windows period. I am not getting exact answer. How many types of hiv test and what are these windows period?

Dr. Chakravarthy S SGeneral Physician10yrs exp

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Good evening Mr. lybrate-user. Window period is the time taken for any organism from the day of its entry into the body till to the day we are able to diagnose it in the blood. Each disease has its own window period. Every foriegn body has its own antigen which is identified by the body and produces antibodies specific to that foreign organism. Hence we test for either antigen or antibody and sometimes both to diagnose the disease. Any person who got infected with hiv, starts developing hiv antibodies after 1- 2 weeks and we can perform antigen test around 1st week, pcr test at 10-14 days and simple rapid test for antibodies after 21- 28 days. Any person if infected with hiv, he will be diagnosed within 3 months maximum for antibodies and if not, then definitely by 180 days since exposure and then only we could consider it as conclusive. In your case its 20 days since your exposure so I request you to go for antibody test or rapid or tridot test after 28 days. Even though its negative, please repeat the antibody test after 90 days and finally at 180 days since your exposure. So please stop worrying, test after 28 days. Watch out for development of any symptoms. And feel free to contact me with the results. I have more than 10 year experience treating hiv and my patient's safety and privacy are my first priority.  

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