What is the test?

 

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. When a person is infected with HIV, the immune system responds by attacking the virus with antibodies. When your blood is taken for an HIV test, we are actually testing for these antibodies. This is important to understand because everyone’s immune system develops them at a different rate. A person may take anywhere from two to six months after becoming infected to develop the HIV antibodies detected in a test. During this “window period” an HIV test may be negative even if the person has been infected with HIV. For this reason, you may be referred to test again if your last possible exposure was not three months prior to your test. Each time you have unprotected sexual contact, your "window period" starts over.