Table of Contents
How accurate is HIV test after 14 days?
The sensitive tests (at least 50 copies/ml) become positive after 10-15 days and ultrasensitive ones (at least 1-5 copies/ml) already after the 5th day of possible exposure. HIV RNA test has 90\% accuracy if tested after 10-12 days. For more definitive results get tested after 42 days (99\% accurate results).
How Soon Can HIV be detected?
A nucleic acid test (NAT)can usually tell you if you have HIV infection 10 to 33 days after an exposure. An antigen/antibody test performed by a laboratory on blood from a vein can usually detect HIV infection 18 to 45 days after an exposure.
Does a negative HIV test result mean I don’t have HIV?
A negative result doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have HIV. This is due to the window period. If you test again after the window period, have no possible HIV exposure during the window period, and the result comes back negative, you do not have HIV.
How soon after an exposure to HIV can I get tested?
To learn more about the window period and when a person should get retested, see CDC’s How soon after an exposure to HIV can an HIV test if I am infected?. If you get an HIV test within 3 months after a potential HIV exposure and the result is negative, get tested again in 3 more months to be sure.
What happens if I get tested for HIV outside of hospital?
If you are tested outside of a health care setting or lab (such as at a community-based organization, mobile testing van, or elsewhere) you will likely receive a rapid HIV test (oral fluid or finger stick.) If the test comes back negative, and you haven’t had a possible exposure during the previous 3 months, you can be confident you don’t have HIV.
What do the results of HIV test mean?
Understanding HIV Test Results. HIV testing shows whether a person is infected with HIV. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection.