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What Is The Window Period For Antibody Testing Of Various STDs?

Posted on Tue, 3 Feb 2015

Question: what is the window period for anti body testing of various STD's .If the sex is protected then what are the common virus which might transmit with protective sex.

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (42 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Please find details below

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in details.
The window period of an infection is the time duration from when an individual is infected to the time it shows up on testing. The different window periods are as below.

(i) Chlamydia 2 weeks
(ii) Human papilloma virus causing genital warts 1 month or more
(iii) Gonorrhea 7 days
(iv) Hepatitis (anal to oral sex) 4 weeks
(v) Hepatitis B 4 weeks
(vi) Hepatitis C 6 weeks
(vii) Herpes (oral and genital) 3 months
(viii) HIV 6 weeks

If the sex is protected then risk of Hepatitis B, Herpes (oral and genital) and Human papilloma virus continues to be present even when the sex is protected. This is because these infections can be transmitted by saliva and sweat due to close body contact like kissing, massaging or hugging without clothes on.

Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (15 minutes later)

if all test comes negative after 100 days that mean it is negative conclusively or further testing need after 6 month.

I was checking on internet most of the website some time it take upto 6 month, is it true.

please review reports and advise.

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (20 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
180 days or 6 months testing for at least HIV and HBSAG is recommended

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. Page 1 of 8 report
Hepatitis C result NEGATIVE

2. Page 2 of 8 report
ANTI CHLAMYDIA ANTIBODY IGG result NEGATIVE

3. Page 3 of 8 report
ANTI CHLAMYDIA ANTIBODY IGM result NEGATIVE

4. Page 4 of 8 report
HIV ELISA result NEGATIVE

5. Page 5 of 8 report
HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN (HBSAG) result NEGATIVE

6. Page 6 of 8 report
TREPONEMA PALLIDUM ANTIBODY (TPAB) result NEGATIVE

7. Page 7 of 8 report
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS II (HSV)-IGG result NEGATIVE
HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS II (HSV)-IGM result NEGATIVE

8. Page 6 of 8 report
TREPONEMA PALLIDUM HAEMAGGLUTINATION result NEGATIVE

From the above result of each test is NEGATIVE for you.
Its true that some tests can take 6 months to show up due to longer than usual window periods. At 6 months, most tests are supposed to be confirmatory. For double confirmation and peace of mind I suggest you get the tests repeated at 6 months, at least HIV and HBSAG tests.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

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

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (5 minutes later)

Is there any case where u have 3 time testing in 100 day show negative results and can turn positive after 6 months.

I found on internet like the case are very rare and those are with patient who has organ transplant or bad immune system. Is this true

what is the normal recommendation

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)

Brief Answer: XXXXXXX guidelines recommends testing once after 6 months

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing back with an update.

As per medical literature only one patient tested positive after 1 year and few have tested positive after 6 months.

There are guidelines formulated by health authorities and one such famous authority is the Center for Disease Control CDC in USA. It is important that you get the HIV antibodies testing done at 3 months and 6 months after the unprotected sex incident. The 6 months test has accuracy of more than 99.5 percent.

Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,
Dr.Vivek

Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari