hiv window period per haarvard medical school

[scaredmuch]

6 weeks. see below links. if it  is true.  cdc's recomm of 3 month has been made lot of people mental stress.

http://www.uhs.harvard.edu/Resources/HealthInformationByTopic/SexuallyTransmittedInfections/HIVTestingServices.aspx

HUHS offers both confidential and anonymous testing. We test for HIV antibodies, not for the virus itself. The time it takes for a person to develop antibodies for HIV in the blood is called the window period. Getting tested during the window period might yield inaccurate results. The window period varies from person to person. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health considers the test highly reliable at 6 weeks from the initial infection.

HIV antibodies can take up to 6 weeks to show in the blood so if you are being tested during that time, you should probably get tested again later to be sure.

children's hopital in ma

http://www.childrenshospital.org/clinicalservices/Site1849/mainpageS1849P14sublevel20.html

The Rapid Test is very sensitive, which means that there is a small chance a "reactive" result is false. This is why every "reactive" or "positive" result is followed up with a blood test to verify the results. A negative result is always accurate, unless you have been exposed to HIV within the last 6 weeks.

[LIZZIE LOU]

UNTIL the cdc, fda, and the manufacturers of the test, change this 3 month window period guideline...NO ONE ELSE CAN!!!!!

[Teak]

Mental stress is caused by the one that put themselves at risk. It doesn't have anything to do with the testing guidelines.

[scaredmuch]

or ma health deparment and harvad university is not taking their responsibility serious. HIV is not a joke. why they would do that? Who we can trust?

[scaredmuch]

I am not sure if my english is poor enough that I misred harvard school and chilren's hospital statements. In the statement, it clearly say that 6 week is conclusive and only within 6 week period need retest. It appies for any one regardless risk factor. And they quoted the guidline from helath department of MA. I am a foreigner, I am not confident on my english. I just felt if MA health department are correct, the necessary 3 month guildline really made lot of peoples mental stress, is that worth for it?

[Teak]

There are not tests approved to give one a conclusive negative test result earlier than 3 months. If you would have talked to the MASS Dept of Health they would have explained it. That anyone with a "real" risk tests out to 3 months.

[scaredmuch]

do you mean ma health department and harvd university is inresposnible for their statements

[Teak]

3 months is when one can obtain a conclusive negative test result. There are NO tests approved to give a conclusive result earlier than that.