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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Should I Still Be Worried About HIV After Getting 2 Negative Tests?

I had unprotected sex with a woman who claims to be HIV-. After 4 weeks I did a finger prick test at the pharmacy's clinic which was negative. After 6.5 weeks I did another test at the pharmacy's clinic, which was negative too. Should i still worry or should I stop stressing?
Fri, 16 May 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello!
I read carefully your query and understand your concern.
There's a period of time after a person is infected during which they won't test positive. This is called the “HIV window period.”
The window period can be from 9 days to 3-6 months, depending on the person's body and on the HIV-test that's used. During that time, you can test HIV negative even though you're HIV infected.
Antibody tests ("Rapid" tests) — give a positive result based on antibodies to HIV, not the virus itself.
12 weeks (3 months) after infection, about 97% of people will have enough antibodies to test positive.

To exclude this 3% possibility you can test again in 6 months after exposure.
If this test is negative then HIV infection is 100 % excluded.

Hope my answer has helped.
take care.
Dr.Rovena
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Should I Still Be Worried About HIV After Getting 2 Negative Tests?

Hello! I read carefully your query and understand your concern. There s a period of time after a person is infected during which they won t test positive. This is called the “HIV window period.” The window period can be from 9 days to 3-6 months, depending on the person s body and on the HIV-test that s used. During that time, you can test HIV negative even though you re HIV infected. Antibody tests ( Rapid tests) — give a positive result based on antibodies to HIV, not the virus itself. 12 weeks (3 months) after infection, about 97% of people will have enough antibodies to test positive. To exclude this 3% possibility you can test again in 6 months after exposure. If this test is negative then HIV infection is 100 % excluded. Hope my answer has helped. take care. Dr.Rovena