Is Antibody Test Done On 96th Day After Exposure Conclusive?

Brief Answer:
Please quit worrying and follow precautions in future

Detailed Answer:
Hi Mr. XXXXXXX

I have gone through your query and I understand your anxiety regarding exposure to HIV.

But based on the test results you have mentioned in your query, you are definitely HIV negative.

HIV after entry into the body replicates in the local lymph nodes and then enters blood stream where it affects CD4 cells.

The body takes at least 3 weeks to 3 months to produce antibodies against HIV. These antibodies are detected by various tests.

The period when the person is infective but still negative for antibodies can be termed as window period. This period ranges for 3 weeks to 3 months.

Hence to rule out this period, all antibody tests are repeated after 100 days of exposure and confirmed by western blot.

You have correctly undergone testing at appropriate timing and your two consecutive test results show negative results.

NACO guidelines suggests that two consecutive negative test results can be declared as HIV negative status.

So you do not have to worry about your HIV status.

You are HIV negative. But I would like to stress here the importance of precautions in your future encounters.

Please follow strict precautions in future to avoid high risk exposure.

Moreover, HIV is the most discussed topic of the century. There is lots of information on the net about HIV which can be misleading and unnerving to the reader.

There are health care providers at different AIDS counselling centers in various cities to provide you with valid information regarding HIV and your test results.

Please get in touch with one of them.

I hope I have helped reduce your worries.

Wishing you good health.

Thanks.

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Brief Answer:
No further testing required

Detailed Answer:
Hi Mr. XXXXXXX

Welcome back.

No further testing required.

Please quit worrying about that episode and go ahead with your life with a positive attitude.

Wishing you good health.

Please get back if any more queries.

Thanks

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Brief Answer:
Seroconversion in HIV takes 3 weeks to 3 months

Detailed Answer:
Hi Mr. XXXXXXX

Welcome back.

Apologies for the late reply. I have been busy lately with my other professional obligations.

Coming to your query, I would like to elaborate few points about HIV so that you can understand the changes occurring in the body in an HIV infected person.

HIV is a RNA virus which is usually sexually transmitted, it can also be transmitted by blood transfusion and by sharing needles with HIV infected persons.

As I had told you earlier, HIV enters the body and is taken up by cells called macrophages which carry this virus to the local lymph nodes where this virus multiplies.

After multiplication, it is spilled back into the blood where it infects CD4 type of cells affecting the immune system of the body.

To reach the blood, the virus takes about 4-11 days after exposure. Hence there is no test to detect HIV immediately after exposure.

Seroconversion is when the body tries to fight the virus by producing antibodies against it. These antibodies become detectable in blood sample only after 3 weeks. Hence, antibody testing is usually done only after 3 weeks.

In some persons, this seroconversion takes longer, up to 3 months.
This could be because of a weak immune system or when they are on immunosuppressive drugs like steroids or anticancer drugs.

But in most cases, the antibodies against HIV should be detectable by 3 months after exposure.

The internet will display some exceptions which occur very rarely and the information on such sites is usually incomplete and unreliable.

As I have suggested earlier, do not believe all the information on the net.

Please trust your health care provider and get information regarding HIV from ART centers present in your city.

I hope I have helped clear your doubts.

Thanks.

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