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How Conclusive Is Negative HIV Antibody Test After 3 Months Of Possible Exposure?
Question: I went to planned parenthood 5 months ago and had the HIV antibody test done and it came up negative. how sensitive is the test and would it still be negative now? It had been 3-4 months since having sex with that significant other.
Brief Answer:
Here is some information that might help:
Detailed Answer:
Antibody tests to HIV give a positive result based on antibodies to HIV, not to the presence of the virus itself, and therefore require 3 months.
By 3 months/12 weeks after infection, about 97% of people who have been exposed will have enough antibodies to test positive on the HIV antibody test.
In rare cases, a person can take up to 6 months after exposure for the test to turn positive and in almost all of these cases, that person has a markedly compromised immune system from some other cause, such as leukemia.
I am not sure when you say you were tested 5 months ago whether you mean it was 5 months after exposure or right after exposure? If you tested negative 3 months after possible exposure, you are safe. If the window was shorter than 3 months, then you will want to get tested again.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Here is some information that might help:
Detailed Answer:
Antibody tests to HIV give a positive result based on antibodies to HIV, not to the presence of the virus itself, and therefore require 3 months.
By 3 months/12 weeks after infection, about 97% of people who have been exposed will have enough antibodies to test positive on the HIV antibody test.
In rare cases, a person can take up to 6 months after exposure for the test to turn positive and in almost all of these cases, that person has a markedly compromised immune system from some other cause, such as leukemia.
I am not sure when you say you were tested 5 months ago whether you mean it was 5 months after exposure or right after exposure? If you tested negative 3 months after possible exposure, you are safe. If the window was shorter than 3 months, then you will want to get tested again.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Yes. I was tested 5 months ago, which was a little over 3 months after possible exposure and the result was negative.
Brief Answer:
Then you are negative.
Detailed Answer:
That HIV Antibody test should be adequate for determining that you are negative.
You asked about the sensitivity of the test, and all of the HIV Antibody tests are over 99% sensitive.
Here is a pdf from the Center for Disease Control about the various tests used, if you want to find yours, but again, all are 99% sensitive, and 97% of infected people have antibodies by 3 months.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library_slideset_testing_usca_branson.pdf
Then you are negative.
Detailed Answer:
That HIV Antibody test should be adequate for determining that you are negative.
You asked about the sensitivity of the test, and all of the HIV Antibody tests are over 99% sensitive.
Here is a pdf from the Center for Disease Control about the various tests used, if you want to find yours, but again, all are 99% sensitive, and 97% of infected people have antibodies by 3 months.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library_slideset_testing_usca_branson.pdf
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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