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What Is The Window Period For An HIV Test?

Posted on Wed, 30 Mar 2016

Question: I am experiencing late stage hiv/253657?iL=true" >AIDS symptoms and have had 5 negative HIV tests done using the 4th generation HIV 1/2 antibody and antigen test, and using the RNA QL TMA Gen Probe test which looks for the HIV virus. My question is: could there be any possible way that if I have full blown AIDS, these tests would come back as negative?

Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (30 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No chance of HIV .

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for query. I am Dr Bharatesh D Basti answering your query.
Welcome to health care magic. I have gone through the details, previous query, and can make out your anxiety.

The act itself is not a risk for HIV transmission.
Moreover the tests for HIV are repeatedly negative including RNA PCR ,antibodies tests which are Conclusive.
You are free from HIV.There are no chance of AIDS symptoms as all tests are negative.No possiblities of AIDS stage with negative test results.

You need not worry about HIV.
Relax.Do yoga, exercises. Get involved in activities of your interest. Forget HIV.
Get examined by a physician for all your symptoms.

You can get back for any clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti
Dermatologist and venereolgist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (1 hour later)

My symptoms are becoming fairly severe with weight loss. Are you sure that the Qualitative TMA RNA Gen Probe test would detect RNA in late stage AIDS patients?

Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Yes.It can detect HIV.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for follow up query.

Yes.The test will detect even in the late stage.You can allay fears of HIV.
Consult a physician for further management of symptoms. It is not due to HIV.
You can get back for any clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (24 minutes later)

Hi Dr. Basti,

Would there be any circumstance you would be aware of that would cause a false negative on these tests during late stage AIDS? Such as if a person had cancer or other infection present in the body?

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
False negative results chances is nil.

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX

Thank you for follow up query.

The tests of RNA ,antibodies have come negative repeatedly. So the chances of all tests showing false negative results is nil.
The chances of False negative results of RNA test at late stage is nil. It is a test to detect viral component. So chances of negative results even if cancer/immunosuppression is nil.

You can allay fears of HIV.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (1 hour later)

Hi Dr. Basti,

So even though the test I took was a Qualitative (looking for RNA) and not the viral load test which tells the count, I still should feel good that the test came back non-detected?

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes.You are free from HIV.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for follow up query.

With the given history, reports ,repeated tests negativity and the qualitative RNA results negativity,It is definitely Conclusive that you are free from HIV.
You can allay fears of HIV.
You can get back for any clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (1 hour later)

Hi Dr. Basti,

So just to clarify, if I were in the hiv/253657?iL=true" >AIDS stage of progression, the HIV virus levels would still be detectable? They do not break down at this stage? Even the antibodies?

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Both are negative. You are free from HIV.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for follow up query.

The tests will detect HIV RNA and antibodies even in AIDS stage.
You do not worry as both are negative,there are no chance of HIV.
You can get back for any clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (12 hours later)

Hi Dr. Basti,

I have done a lot of reading about sero-reversion. It sounds like at that stage, late stage AIDS, the body would not show antibodies to the virus. Is this possible? Does this always happen in late stage cases? Would the QL TMA RNA test still be able to pick up the detection of the virus if I had sero-reverted?

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Bharatesh Devendra Basti (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Allay fears of HIV.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thank you for follow up query.

There are rare case reports of seroreversion,But they are reported in full blown AIDS. Your symptoms do not suggest AIDS.
Moreover repeated tests of both antibodies and RNA are negative.So you need not worry.

You can get back for any clarification.
Thank you
Dr Bharatesh D Basti

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar