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[inadepression]

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Welcome to the CDC National Prevention Information Network. You are now chatting with 'Jack'. How may we help you?
you: Hello
you: What is the window period of hiv according to the CDC
Jack: Thank you for waiting. I'll be with you in just a moment.
Jack: Hello, I am sorry for the delay. According to the CDC, the window period is 6 months after exposure.
you: Is it same for 4th generation tests?
Jack: I'm sorry for the delay. I'll be right with you.
Jack: The reason it is 6 months is because 97% of people will develop antibodies to HIV at 3 months, but some rare cases 3% occur at 6 months.  This window period is for antibody testing.
you: Ok. I am talking about ag/ab tests.
you: Combo tests or duo tests
you: My doctor told me that the new window period is 3 months
Jack: But which kind of combo/duo tests?
you: p24 + hiv 1/2 antibodies
Jack: According to the CDC, it is 6 months.  I can not comment on your doctor's statement or his information.
Jack: Ok...if the tests are antibody tests...it is still 6 months.
you: I have learnt that CDC used to say 6 months since 2004
you: It was 6 months but
you: from 2004, it is 3 months.
you: right?
you: no?
Jack: Again, it is 6 months because there are rare cases that take this long...it is still 6 months...I can give you the website.
you: Ok. When is the last case who seroconvert after 3 months?
Jack: We do not have that kind of information here...you can contact CDC INFORMATION at 1-800-232-4636 or e-mail at ***@****.
you: ok
you: thank you
you: here is the last question
Jack: Have a good day.
Jack: ok
you: CDC says 6 months to include all people and people who use IV drugs or has severe immune system disorder produce antibodies after 3 months. Is that true? or Can healthy people produce antibodies after 3 months?
Jack: No. Healthy people can develop antibodies after 3 months...they are rare cases but anyone could be that rare case.  
you: You even did not ask my exposure.
you: What kind of consultancy is that
you: You know nothing about hiv
Jack: I do not need to know your exposure...that is your personal information.  
you: Oh really.
Jack: You asked me the window period.
you: But it depends
you: if it is oral sex
you: than, 6 weeks will be sufficient
you: if it is receptive anal sex
you: 13 weeks will be conclusive
Jack: That is not accurate information.  
Jack: You can contact CDC INFORMATION at 1-800-232-4636

-No comment.-
Teak will say, they know nothing. But, here is the official guide of CDC.

[Teak]

Name the other states and name the test that is approved to give you a conclusive test result at 6 weeks.

[regularjoey]

I've heard this too and I believe that is WRONG.
All the articles that talk about persistently seronegative HIV+ people are in fact dealing with people who have seroREVERTED due to AIDS - this does happen sometimes.  That's my take on that issue.
You also may want to check the thread called "Massachussetts" for more on this.

[bigdummy1]

By the way, a number of state health departments consider a 6 week test conclusive including the State of Masachussets.  The CDC is not the be all and end all and is overly cautious and conservative.

[karap]

Hi,
     I read an article by med professional which states that very handful of people will not develop detectable antibodies at all eventhough they are infected. In that article, the med prof said the use of viral load assay will be to identify the infection. But I have a question how a person will know that he or she is HIV infected if he or she will be antibody negative on the test. This is strange.

2) People who take longer than 6 months are immunocompressed like chemo, transplant etc. Are there any hidden immune diseases which a person will not know by staying healthy. This is true that immune disorders can delay seroconversion even by 1-2 years because there are datas where people seroconverted after 2 years.

EXPERTS Plz omment.

Thanks

[ExtremeStress]

inadepression can and will. he just stirs up the pot. ex his last post (lets continue). what a dumba$$.

[sunsforlife]

i think that you guys are totally just trying to look for any little imperfection. You guys arent understanding the sentence. Yeah it says 97% by 3 months and the other 3% percent are people with the severe immunue problems or whatever. Everyone already knows that if you are indeed positive then your gonna test postive way before 3 months anyway so if you get a negative at 3 then thats it. you dont need anymore. You cant argue with facts.