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Q: HIV quantitative test

asked by: DoctorQuestion on November 8th, 2009

Hi, I(female) made HIV 1 RNA quantitative test, after 18 days when i had sex without a condom (that man said he is clean), the test was negativne, should i reply test again or i can believe it? the doctor sayd that that test even shows after 14 days is virus in the blood or no, is it right?

Replies(1)

Dr. Kokil Mathur , MD

replied on November 17th, 2009

HIV and AIDS Answer A7926

Hello and welcome to eHealth Forum!

The HIV 1 RNA quantitative test should actually not be used as a diagnostic test to detect HIV. It is used to monitor the treatment response in known HIV positive patients and to assess recent viral load. It can show a recent viral load within 2 weeks.

Ideally a HIV antibody test should be done within a month of exposure. Almost everyone who is infected will have a positive antibody test within 3 months. Hence it should be repeated after 3 months. Hope this helps. Take care!

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