Many individuals in Australia grow anxious and concerned directly following potential exposure to the HIV virus. As the anxiety grows so does their desire to test for HIV urgently to see if they have been infected by the HIV virus. This is a perfectly natural response but urgent HIV testing is not the remedy.
Why not test for HIV immediately after potential exposure?
Current HIV testing technology tests for the HIV antibodies, not the HIV virus itself. AS you are testing for HIV antibodies the body must first produce these in response to the virus. This process is referred to as seroconversion and must have occurred to detect the HIV virus by way of an antibody test. This can take up to 3-6 months in some individuals. This period of time between infection and detectable levels of HIV antibodies is commonly referred to as the HIV window period.
So whilst urgent testing is a natural desire, it serves no purpose medically speaking. The patient is better off learning anxiety management skills and becoming educated about the HV infection and antibody process. This will assist in ensuring the patient is not a potential risk to others by practising at risk behaviour.
So when should an individual test for HIV.
As most people develop detectable antibodies approximately 30 days after infection, although some seroconvert later it is logical to test at 30 days. This result is not conclusive but is certainly a useful tool in indicating a probable result and thus relieving anxiety. The most important test comes at 90 days, at which time at 97% of individuals will have detectable level of antibodies to the HIV virus, i.e. they have seroconverted. With this logic many clients of HIV testing devices as sold by Head Start testing purchase 3 HIV test kits and test at 30,60 and 90 days. Of course it is important that they continue to consider their HIV status as uncertain until the 90 day test as they may not have seroconverted and of course if HIV positive they can infect others.
Who should not use HIV self-testing?
It is worth noting that antiretroviral therapy during the window period will not remove the HIV virus and can delay the formation of HIV antibodies and thus extend the window period beyond 12 months.
Additionally individuals with X-linked agammaglobulinemia should seek medical supervision with testing as antibody testing may not be suitable for them.
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