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Trying to educate myself

Dr. HHH stated that if you had sex with a positive person, you may need to test 3 month or longer because the antibodys could take this long.  Why would you test longer and how long?  I guess the point being is that most of us do not know the status of the other partner so we must assume that they are pos. This is my we test.  Teak or someone, please explain because I am trying to learn. Thank you.
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The guideline to obtain a conclusive negative test has been 3 months since 2004.
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Avatar universal
Here it is:

It is true that in some people it takes 3 months for detectable antibody to develop.  But it's quite rare.  When the risk is especially high -- for example, after unprotected vaginal or anal sex with a partner who is known to have HIV -- it is wise to test at 3 months or later.  For the average level of risk, or after low level exposures, 6-8 weeks usually is OK.  The reason official advice usually says 3 months is that the people who write that advice cannot know how high the risk is for any particular person.  So they take a conservative position, in order to avoid giving people false assurance.
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