Can HIV lay dormant up to 10 years?

[icefactor]

Hello,

I am a guy that had a confirmed exposure to HIV from a woman in 2008, I went to a specialist and got tested at 3 months, 6 months and 8 months, results were all negative. Now the specialist said that HIV can lay dormant up to 10 years and I could infect people even tho I got negative results and I should re-test once every 6 months for 10 years, yet I have read in these forums that 90-98% of people who are positive will test positive at 3 months and it's rare for HIV to show up after 6 months, can HIV really hide in the body at undetectable levels for 10 years and I could infect someone? I'm confused and would like some clarity if possible please. I would like to start a family but have been afraid I may have been getting false negatives and infect my girlfriend, please help me put my nightmares to rest once and for all.

[icefactor]

Thanks for the clarity Joggen and Teak and thanks for helping me put this behind me, it's baby making time at last for me and my girlfriend lol, thank you both again.

[joggen]

Your first test confirmed that you are HIV negative. The window period is three months.

[icefactor]

So then since HIV does not lay dormant, can I assume after 8 months and 3 tests with negative results each time im HIV negative????

[joggen]

"Now the specialist said that HIV can lay dormant up to 10 years and I could infect people even tho I got negative results and I should re-test once every 6 months for 10 years"

Un-freakin-believable. He/she needs to find a new line of work.

[Teak]

He's an idiot. No HIV cannot lay dormant.