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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does It Take Longer Than Six Months For Someone To Test Positive To HIV?

Does it ever take longer than 6 months for someone to test positive to hiv? I have seen various sites stating that it has happend..If this is the case is there a reason for it? Doesnt seem right if 97% by 3months and 99% at 6 months, how could someone take longer ??
Mon, 6 Oct 2014
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello
All these are myth and hearsay that HIV take longer than 6 months for diagnosis .
The standard screening test for HIV infection is the detection of anti HIV antibodies using an enzyme immunoassay(EIA).
This test is highly SENSITIVE ( >99.5%) and quite specific .
Western blot is the most commonly used confirmatory test and detects antibodies to HIV antigens of specific molecular weights.
Antibodies to HIV begin to appear within 2 weeks of infection , and the the period of time between initial infection and development of detectable antibodies is RARELY more than 3 months.
Rapid P 24 NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION test is confirmatory ( pcr , rna ) and after 2 weeks and not more than 3 months is WINDOW period.
I mentioned in detail so that you can find the answer of your question .
Each test must be confirmed with clinical findings , history of illness and physical finding.
Hope this will help you.
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Does It Take Longer Than Six Months For Someone To Test Positive To HIV?

Hello All these are myth and hearsay that HIV take longer than 6 months for diagnosis . The standard screening test for HIV infection is the detection of anti HIV antibodies using an enzyme immunoassay(EIA). This test is highly SENSITIVE ( 99.5%) and quite specific . Western blot is the most commonly used confirmatory test and detects antibodies to HIV antigens of specific molecular weights. Antibodies to HIV begin to appear within 2 weeks of infection , and the the period of time between initial infection and development of detectable antibodies is RARELY more than 3 months. Rapid P 24 NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION test is confirmatory ( pcr , rna ) and after 2 weeks and not more than 3 months is WINDOW period. I mentioned in detail so that you can find the answer of your question . Each test must be confirmed with clinical findings , history of illness and physical finding. Hope this will help you.