I'm confused I always thought that hiv took 3-6 months to get an accurate reading from a blood test. Someone told me it could take ten years. Is this true????
2006-08-19 11:18:42 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ STDs
This question is asked a lot. HIV/AIDS symptoms take up to 10 years to show up. If you had unprotected sex it usually takes 1-6 months for your body to make antibodies against the virus. This is what the blood test picks up. So if you have sex today, then get tested now, 6 months from now, and then to be safe 1 year from the day of your encounter. This is enough testing, if the tests are negative after 6 months then it is almost certain that you do not have the virus.
I wish people would get these facts straight and quit scaring people!!!!!!!
2006-08-19 16:19:39 · answer #1 · answered by Maggie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dear Christina
In answer to your medical question, if HIV can take upto 10 years to be detected in the blood, then the Heamatology Department who does the blood test's must be running on a go slow.
In truth and under today's medical science, a Blood Test can take a matter of just minute's to determine whether, or not a person as HIV in there blood.
The information which you have been given with regards to it taking 10 years, is nothing more than a load of stuff and nonesense.
I therefore trust that this answer's your medical question.
2006-08-19 19:15:06 · answer #2 · answered by STEVEN 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People! Please pay attention!
Hiv WILL show up within 3 months on today's blood tests. Absolutely!
The "10 year" thing that some of you are thinking about is this.....Hiv generally turns into AIDS in around 10 years. Hiv is the VIRUS. The test looks for the virus. The virus can go about 10 years, once you are infected, before it starts really giving you problems with all the Opportunistic Infections.
Ok??
2006-08-19 18:53:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you'be been infected the HIV virus should show up within 3 - 6 months as you say. The onset of full-blown AIDS can take up to 10 years in some cases.
2006-08-19 19:32:20 · answer #4 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello,
It can take up to 10 years for symptoms to satrt showing, not a hiv test because there are different types of test which actually detect the actual hiv or antigen which appear quickly than the antibodies.
Take care
2006-08-20 03:31:53 · answer #5 · answered by kida_w 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It takes 3 months for the body to start to build antibodies against the HIV. You can then be tested for a positive or negative result.
The virus can lay dormant in the body for up to ten years or more before signs or symptoms start to appear. The first signs are flu-like symptoms characterized by fever, myalgia, malaise and later, lymphadenopathy. Later, other symptoms may become more prevalent, such as skin ulcers or mucosal erosions or breakdowns.
2006-08-19 22:01:21 · answer #6 · answered by Nancy L 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. But it can take up to a year to show on blood tests. That's why they say to get tested every 3 months.
2006-08-19 18:24:30 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no that was back in the day if you think you have been exposed youre doctor will test you that same day and then again in 6 months the tests have gotten much more fined tuned now
2006-08-19 18:24:10 · answer #8 · answered by angelina_mcardle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should 3 months test then 6 months then 1 year will be accurste
2014-03-31 19:04:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it can take up to 6 months at teh most.
2006-08-19 18:22:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋