I took an HIV 1 and 2 antibodies screening and an HIV 1 and 2 p24 combo test 86 days after I was exposed. The results came back negative. Can I be sure that's conclusive at this point?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Ranjith Darla

General Practitioner

MBBS
3+ Yrs

Consult Now

A negative HIV 1&2 antibodies and p24 combo test after 86 days (approximately 3 months) of exposure is highly suggestive of non-infection, but not conclusive. Here's why:

Reasons for Caution

Window period: HIV antibodies may take up to 3-4 months to develop.

False negatives: Rare, but possible due to laboratory errors or test sensitivity.

Viral load: Low viral load may not trigger antibody production.

Next Steps

Repeat testing: Schedule another HIV test 3-6 months after initial exposure.

Dr. Ranjith Suggests...

Consult a Infectious Disease specialist

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Answered 04/07/2025

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I've got a question about my recent HIV test. I took an HIV 1 RNA PCR Quantitative test about six weeks after potential exposure, and the result was "target not detected." Is this result completely conclusive, or should I think about getting tested again later? I'm a little worried and want to be sure everything's okay.

Visit Physician for evaluation and appropriate management

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