Symptoms and antibodies, which came first?

[anxiousbuddy]

Hi, there.

So I have a question as follows:

If one has been infected and present some hiv-like symptoms, then the immune system can produce antibodies to fight with the virus, right? If this statement is right, can we say that as long as the symptoms presenting, antibody-based test can detect if one is hiv positive? Thanks in advance.

[Teak]

One may never get symptoms when infected with HIV. .

[HowardH]

The timing of symptoms and antibody isn't exactly the same, but close. But within a week after onset of symptoms, an anttibody test will just about always be positive.