Expert: John Thai, M.D. - 5/3/2007

Question
sorry but i don't speak very well english (i am french) here, everybody says:  "after exposure, we can be sure after a test about 12 week after this exposure..."  i am afraid, anxious, because i do a test after 6 weeks and i do not know if it's suffisant... Can i have your opinion?

Thank's a lot

Answer
Hi Kimi,

Please do not be sorry. This service is available to everyone. It takes approximately 3 months for the HIV virus to appear in a blood test. Testing 6 weeks after a possible HIV infection is not sufficient to declare whether you have been exposed. I recommend retesting 6 weeks from now. There is a quick 20 minute HIV test that is 99% accurate. Your physician will swab inside your mouth and test it. A result should be available within 20 minutes. I recommend testing once every 3 months if you are sexually active.

Regards,

John T, MD