Hiv test at 6 weeks or after 6 weeks?
Submitted by remev12 on Thu, 07/27/2006 - 6:26am.
I recently went for hiv test at 6 weeks, i want to know should i have waited longer, the result was negative . i took the hiv 1/2 ab p24 ag test.Im from south africa.
thanks
HIV Testing
Thanks for your question regarding testing. Standard HIV tests require that you wait 3 months before you go get a test done. Before that point the antibodies that work against the virus are not at a high enough level to confirm your HIV status. It is also important to know that at the 3 month mark only 98% of the population will test accurately. For the other 2% of the population it takes 6 months. We recommend that people get tested at the 3 month mark and the 6 month mark just to be sure their test is accurate. For an accurate test it is also necessary that you practice harm reduction for the that you are waiting for your results. Use condoms/female condoms during sexual encounters and use new drug use equipment such as needles, filter and water, when using drugs.
For more information regarding were to get tested in your area please contact the anonymous AIDS info-line at 1-800-665-2437.
Sincerely,
Erica Williamson