How long after a possible exposure should I wait to get tested for HIV?
The tests commonly used to detect HIV infection look for antibodies produced by your body to fight HIV. Most people will develop detectable antibodies within two weeks to three months after infection. In rare cases, it can take up to 6 months. This is called the window period. For this reason, the Office of AIDS Programs and Policy testing sites recommend that clients get an HIV test between three to six months from the date of their last possible exposure to HIV. It is also important to remember that every time you expose yourself to HIV, you open up another window period.
• Answer: It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the HIV test to detect. This time period can vary from person to person. Most people will develop detectable antibodies within two to eight weeks (the average is 20-25 days). Even so, there is a chance that some people will take longer to develop detectable antibodies. If the initial negative HIV test was conducted within the first three months after possible exposure, repeat testing should be considered.
Though a person who is infected with HIV may become infectious themselves very rapidly (as little as a day or so), they will have to wait at while before an HIV test will produce an accurate result. The length of time a person should wait before taking an HIV test will depend on the type of test they are taking. Most HIV tests are antibody tests that measure the antibodies your body makes against HIV. It can take some time for the immune system to produce enough antibodies for the antibody test to detect, and this time period can vary from person to person. For most people these antibodies take 2 weeks to 3 months to develop. The average is about 3 weeks. In rare cases, it can take up to 6 months. It is extremely rare for a person to take any longer then 6 months to develop detectable antibodies. This time period is commonly referred to as the “window period.” Therefore, if the initial negative HIV test was conducted within the first 3 months after possible exposure, repeat testing sho
