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Can HIV Antibodies Appear 40 Days After Exposure?

Posted on Mon, 12 Jan 2015

Question: Can't antibody to hiv be present after 40days of exposure?Tested with his 1&2 ab/ag p24 and it showed negative at 40days of exposure.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
HIV 1 infection ruled out. HIV 2 is yet to be ruled out.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for posting your query..
HIV antibodies are likely to start appearing in one's body following an HIV infection by 40 days. But the response of individual body may vary from person to person. It is not happening on the particular day for all, in Medicine. Appearance of these antibodies against HIV may be delayed up to 90 days in certain individuals, according to the reaction of their body. So the test on 40 days can not be taken as final. But the antigen part of this DUO test is conclusive and the negative test is ruled out HIV 1 infection. As it can not detect the HIV 2 antigen, it is better to repeat after 12 weeks to rule out HIV 2 also through the antibody part of the test.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (5 hours later)

What is the difference between hiv1 and hiv2?

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
HIV 2 is less virulent and has an indolent course

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.

AIDS can be caused by either HIV 1 or HIV 2.

Throughout the world HIV 1 is common infection up to 90% except in certain parts of XXXXXXX Rest of the world, HIV 2 prevalence is less than 1%.
HIV 2 is less virulent, transmission to partner and children are low compared to HIV 1 and runs an indolent course. But symptoms are almost similar.
The treatment also has difference.
Dr S.Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (14 hours later)

Thank you very much dr, am so sorry for asking a lot of question now that hiv1 has been ruled out in my case, can the symptoms of hiv2 last for 9weeks because today is making it 9weeks and1 day since my last exposure,the symptoms started 8days after the exposure and right now I still have a serious pains at my neck, fatigue headache and diarrhea for the past 4weeks.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (10 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your symptoms are not due to HIV 2 infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back. You are free to ask questions. Not to get disturbed.

Earliest symptoms of HIV (1 and 2) can occur only after 4-6 weeks after the possible entry of the organism, if any,and not before. Your symptoms started the very next day following the exposure. These could not be due to HIV infection. So nothing to worry. Moreover HIV 2 is very very rare possibility. Diarrhea,fatigue and neck pain might be due to some other infections that could occur to anybody without an HIV infection. Consult a physician and get well soon.
Dr S.Murugan

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

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (20 minutes later)

Thank you dr but my symptoms started 8 days after exposure and today is 9weeks and 1day after exposure and am still having diarrhea that have lasted for 4 weeks now, fatigue for 9weeks, neck pain for7weeks. The first symptoms after 8days of exposure was tiredness, headace, inflammation of the armpit and neck.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (27 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Symptoms are not related to HIV

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome once again.

Again I affirm you that symptoms started on 8th day could not be due to HIV. Moreover HIV 1 infection had been already ruled out.
When there is diarrhea you would have fatigue.
Consult your physician.
Dr S.Murugan

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

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (15 hours later)

Thank you so much for answering my questions, there is one more thing I want to be cleared with. Can p24 level still be detected after 40days of exposure. My girl friend also test negative to hiv ab/ag p24 after 12days of unprotected sex with me. Is this true negative for her?

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Both of you are free from HIV 1 infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to HCM.

P24 Antigen would be able to be detected up to 3-5 months after the possible infection, then it might be undetectable due to very low titre. At 40 days it would be present in the presence of an HIV 1 infection.
Your girl friend also is free from HIV 1 infection. Nothing to worry.
Dr S.Murugan

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