How should one wait before taking PCR (HIV) test?

Question

And then how long should on wait for the test results? for ex: elisa takes a week to provide back the results

Answer 1

Hello,

Pcr can be done 10 days after exposure

p24 can be carried out few weeks after exposure

Antibody test, usually avergae people would have seroconverted 22 days after . Most people around 90-95% of people would have seroconverted aorund 4 weeks time..

Check this website might prove helpful to you

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hiv_antibody/sample.html

Answer 2

You should be tested for a baseline (to prove you don't have HIV/AIDS at "x" point in time). Then, you should be tested when you end a relationship and before you start the next one. Ideally, the test should be redone 3 months later.

So if you date "John" and have sex with him but end the relationship on 06/01/06 you should be tested 06/02/06 and again 09/02/06. If the 2nd test comes back negative, then you can have sex with your new boyfriend "Tom."

Just an example for reference.