Hiv test at 12 weeks accurate?!
Question: An HIV teat at 12 weeks will detect more than 99% of cases. It would be considered accurate. The fraction of a percent that test flase negative at 12 weeks usually have an already compromised immune system (chemo/radiation, transplant recipients, etc.,)
The time delay from infection to a positive EIA (ELISA test) AVERAGES about 10-14 days. Some do not seroconvert for 3 to 4 weeks, but virtually all people seroconvert by 6 months.
Hope this helps
Ps. HIV does not have an incubation period of 12 weeks. HIV is active virtually instantly once inside the body. It is the body's response (antibodies) that can take longer to create/detect. This results in a "window period" for the tests. The rule of thumb is three months (>99%) or 12 weeks and the test is considered accurate.
Answers: An HIV teat at 12 weeks will detect more than 99% of cases. It would be considered accurate. The fraction of a percent that test flase negative at 12 weeks usually have an already compromised immune system (chemo/radiation, transplant recipients, etc.,)
The time delay from infection to a positive EIA (ELISA test) AVERAGES about 10-14 days. Some do not seroconvert for 3 to 4 weeks, but virtually all people seroconvert by 6 months.
Hope this helps
Ps. HIV does not have an incubation period of 12 weeks. HIV is active virtually instantly once inside the body. It is the body's response (antibodies) that can take longer to create/detect. This results in a "window period" for the tests. The rule of thumb is three months (>99%) or 12 weeks and the test is considered accurate.
The HIV virus has a twelve week incubation period but can lie dormant for up to six months. If having an HIV test, you should have received proper counselling about what to expect, including a discussion about when you think you might have become infected. Any HIV tester worth their salt would have advised you to come back after the window period had elapsed.
It might be worth you going back to have a chat with whoever tested you.