Sir, I have a doubt regarding HIV testing. If a person tests negative at 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, or even 10 years after exposure, but later tests positive, is it true that this depends on the immune system? Does this mean there is no conclusive test for HIV?

Answered by 1 Apollo Doctors

Dr Rohinipriyanka Pondugula

General Practitioner

MBBS
9+ Yrs

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This is not true, modern HIV tests are highly accurate. HIV 4th generation tests and RNA PCR can detect infection within 2 to 6 weeks. After 3 months (12 weeks), if the test is negative, it is conclusive in almost all cases. It does not take 5 or 10 years to show up if infected. Immune system does not delay HIV detection in standard tests.

Dr. Rohinipriyanka Suggests...

Take a HIV DUO (ANTIGEN AND ANTIBODY) Test

Book HIV DUO (ANTIGEN AND ANTIBODY) Test

Answered 12/09/2025

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