How long after unprotected intercourse, before an HIV test will give a reliable result?
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. The HIV test is an antibody test. This means that it measures your immune system’s response to the virus, not the virus itself. It is recommended that you wait three months after the date you think you might have been infected, in order to get a reliable test. This three months is sometimes called the window period. If you are infected, you can pass the virus to other people during the window period, so be sure to use a condom if you have sex during this period.
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