teak lizzie or any other experts

hi why does dr hook say 8 weeks is enough instead of 3 months ? or does he mean to say its highly unlikely that A neg result wud change after 8 weeks ?
also i have noticed that many posts in here u guys recommended no testing for no risk situations ? why is that ? i mean a test shud be done anyway for the peace of mind ? or is it bad to take hiv tests ?
my exposure was a handjob by a wierd masseur. i dunt trust him at all. he might have put something in my lotion i dunt know nd he made me hold his dick while he was jerking off mine and he was pouring the same lotion on him as well. but am just do scared. i tested 8 weeks negative and this was my only sexual envounter in my whole life...

[9seven3]

Well, according to the CDC, most people will have detectable antibodies 2-8 weeks from the exposure with 97% having detectable antibodies by 3 months (12 Weeks). So Dr. Hook is not too far off. Personally, I think there is so much uncertainty with HIV testing. Doctors on this website say 6-8 weeks, other Doctors say 3 months, others say 6 months, and a few say 1 year! No one knows.

[nursegirl6572]

You didn't have a risk.

The reason for the discrepancy in answers is because on this forum, WE adhere to the OFFICUAL guidelines of 3 months, set up by the CDC and the manufacturers of the HIV tests.

[9seven3]

Actually, the official CDC 'window period' is 3-6 months. That's according to their 2001 guidelines. And I wasn't aware that test manufacturers gave 'window periods'. Can you share the website or source for this? I was under the impression they only gave sensitivity and specificity percentages.    

[george2345]

can rainlover71 please answer this ?

[nursegirl6572]

NO, the window period guideline is 3 months.  6 months is in extremely rare cases where someone would be severely immunocompromised, examples being chemo patients, people taking anti-rejection drugs post an organ transplant, chronic IV drug abusers.

The VAST majority of the population can obtain a conclusive result in 3 months.  And actually, even people who have severely disabled immune systems (see the examples above) will usually test + within 3 months as well.  It's more than enough time for the body to produce detectable antibodies.

And, yes, the testing manufacurers set recommendations on testing tinelines as well.  Currently, there are no tests manufactured to give a conclusive test result before 3 months.

[Teak]

Actually you are incorrect.

http://www.cdc.gov/globalaids/Resources/pmtct-care/docs/TM/Module_6TM.pdf
Page 11
#4
  In an adult, a positive HIV antibody test result means that the person is infected, a person with a negative or inconclusive result may be in the “window for 4 to 6 weeks but occasionally up to 3 months after HIV exposure. Persons at high risk who initially test negative should be retested 3 months after exposure to confirm results

[nursegirl6572]

I forgot to add that the guidelines (3 months) have been in effect since 2004.