Is regular HIV testing important?
When a person is newly infected with HIV, the HIV antibody test can take up to 3 months to detect HIV in your body. There is a period of time between the time of infection and the time that an HIV test can detect the antibodies of an HIV infection, called the “window period.” People who are in this window period may receive a negative test result, but are in fact positive and can transmit the infection to other people. This is why it is important to get tested again if you have engaged in any risky behaviors. A negative test does not mean that you are immune to HIV or that you may not get it in the future. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 in 5 people who are infected with HIV in the United States do not know it. They recommend that anyone who is between 13 and 64 and is sexually active be tested for HIV. If you are negative, you can take steps to make sure you stay that way. If you are positive, the sooner you know it, the better so that you can take adva
