Take a look at this...

[Joan123]

I was browsing aidsmed.org and found this. It is a discussion about the different info in HIV window period."I talked to a doctor who leads the state in HIV testing in Massachussetts about how they came up with 6 weeks as a conclusive test.  He said the state conducted a huge study following a very large group of MSM participants.  The study concluded that ALL men who seroconverted during this test did so within 6 weeks using modern assays AKA 3rd gen or higher.  Also, the public health dept of Mass is funded by the CDC and I assure you if the CDC had proof that what they were saying was incorrect they would say something about it. More importantly, if people were coming back positive after a 6 week neg, we'd hear about it.  In the medical field there is acceptions to everything.  Nothing is 100%, but for all general purposes it is accurate. I would say thay most of the leading researchers/doctors conclude that 6 weeks is accurate:
"Not only have I never had a case, I have never heard a story from any of my many colleagues (who have much greater experience than I do) having a patient who was HIV negative 6 weeks after exposure and positive later. Unless, of course, there were new exposures in the meantime."
- H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Senior Health Research Leader at the Battelle Center for Public Health Research "The AIDS virus replicates (reproduces itself) very quickly: minutes. But, the tests to detect whether someone has been infected with the virus after exposure take much longer to be accurate. The standared HIV test is positive within 3-4 weeks of exposure (the older HIV antibody tests took 2-3 months). In situations where someone has symptoms of acute HIV infection (high fever, swollen glands, rash) we use a test to look for the virus itself, the HIV viral load test. This test detects HIV within 2-3 weeks of exposure and is used in cases where people have symptoms of ACUTE HIV infection. In your case, assuming you are feeling well, you should get a HIV antibody test four weeks after your potential exposure."

[scared_25]

Only if you have a very week immune system.  I.E. IV Drug user or had organ transplant, or radiation therapy.  Would be the only reason to test out past 12 weeks.

It is funny how much we learn and pass on from being scared ourselfs.  You live you learn...

[scared_25]

Do you have anything to add?  I have not seen you around much today?

[Joan123]

I am going o quote Dr.HHH here: "With current standard HIV tests, nobody ever has HIV if negative more than 3 months infection. I have never heard of an exception."

[Joan123]

I've been here for while, but not posted anything until today. I was reading and trying to understand the subject first. I've notice some people, after their own personal experiences, are here to offer their advice and support to others. This is neat! I also noticed that Dobber21 is one of them. I think maybe he started to believe his own results and that is,for sure, a good thing.

[dumbo]

"He doesn't follow the guideline of the Health Deptment he's a member of which states 3 months. http://www.metrokc.gov/HEALTH/apu/infograms/testing.htm"

He is part of that yes, but he is also dictated to as to what he can say there.  Here, he is the expert and is free to say what he feels is right.

I too continue to be mystified why people will agree with some random internet poster rather than Dr. H, widely respecte din the field AND writes FOR the CDC!!  He also has said that he was at a conference in November in Nov06 at which all 300+ HIV EXPERTS IN THE FIELD were asked how many patients they had that tested positive after 6 weeks, not one, NOT 1!! raised their hands.

Lisa Capeldini is also another one who says an even shorter window period is fine.  She is also well respeced in the HIV / AIDS world.

So, again, who should you listen to??!!

[Xhost]

I find myself nodding my head in agreement with MonkeyFlower (as I almost always do when reading her excellent posts) and Dumbo. I have to say that I trust what the advice the good doctor kindly provides, and, as such, I am a believer in the 6 week window period for most of the posters seen in this forum, and others like it. And, of course, he is not the only expert that subscribes to the notion that a 6 week test is sufficient to, in most cases, determine one's HIV status conclusively.

That said, if someone wishes to test out to 12 weeks, I see no harm in doing so. To alleviate a bit of worry, it should be understood that a 6 week negative, if not conclusive (though I have come to believe that it is) is at least a very, very, very, very good indicator of HIV status, and, in the words of more than one expert I have had the pleasure to read or speak to, it is not likely at all for that 6 week result to change.