HIV Window Period Singapore | Shim Clinic
| Help me about HIV Window Period ! |
The HIV window period is the duration of time from when an HIV infection occurs, to the time when a HIV test can reliably detect a HIV positive result.
The HIV window period:
- During the HIV window period, the HIV test may be negative.
- During the HIV window period, the HIV viral load is extremely high, thus making the person highly infectious.
- 4 weeks after exposure, a negative HIV 4th generation test “is very reassuring / highly likely to exclude HIV infection.”
- 12 weeks after exposure, a negative HIV 3rd generation test “would definitively exclude HIV infection.”
References
- 2010 March 15 BASHH Statement on HIV window period
Sexual risk (of HIV/STD/pregnancy), and what you can do before and after exposure.
| Timeline | HIV | STD | Pregnancy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before exposure | |||
| Contraception (females only) | |||
| HIV PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) - Stop HIV infection before exposure | STD vaccine: - Hepatitis vaccine - HPV vaccine | ||
| STD / HIV exposure | |||
| 0-72 hours | HIV PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) - Stop HIV infection after exposure | STD testing * - Screening test - to look for asymptomatic infections - from previous exposures | Emergency contraception with the morning-after pill (females only) |
| 2 weeks | HIV DNA Test | ||
| 1 month | HIV 4th Generation Test - SD Bioline HIV Ag/Ab Combo - Fingerprick blood sampling. - 20 minutes to results | ||
| 3 months | HIV 3rd Generation Test - OraQuick® HIV-1/2 Antibody - Oral fluid or - Fingerprick blood sampling. - 20 minutes to results | STD testing * - Full & comprehensive - diagnostic test - to look for current infections | |
| Watch for | HIV Symptoms | STD Symptoms | |
| If infected | HIV Treatment | STD Treatment | Abortion |