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Ask the Experts about Opportunistic Infections

 

???????
Oct 10, 2001

hi, i'm just after a medical opinion. as seroconversion illness is a sign that the body is fighting hiv, and thus producing antibodies, would a -ve test 8 weeks after the illness had ended (and 13 weeks after exposure) be conclusive? or am i misunderstanding something?

Response from Dr. Feinberg

Most people will have a positive antibody test (a sign that the body is reacting to the HIV)within 8 weeks after infection (exposure), although some may not become positive ("seroconvert") until about 12 weeks after exposure. So an HIV test should be positive in almost everyone who was infected 13 weeks before the test date.



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