When is the most accurate time for HIV testing?

Many people are very afraid of AIDS. After engaging in high-risk behaviors, they do not know when to get tested, which causes great harm to their physical and mental health and seriously affects their work, study and life. The following is provided to the majority of friends in the form of popular science, hoping to bring you help.

The accuracy of HIV testing at different times

After high-risk behavior, it usually takes 2 weeks to detect HIV antibodies. The later the time, the higher the accuracy of the test. After the human body is infected with HIV, there is a "window period". The window period currently recognized in China is 6 weeks to 2 months. False negative results may appear during the window period. However, the vast majority of people can be 100% ruled out in 6 weeks.

We conduct HIV tests at different times, and the accuracy is different. The details are as follows:

Probability of detecting antibodies in 1 week: 22.6%

Probability of detecting antibodies in 2 weeks: 53.775%

Probability of detecting antibodies in 3 weeks: 84.1%

Probability of detecting antibodies in 4 weeks: 98.4%

Probability of detecting antibodies in 5 weeks: 99.45%

Probability of detecting antibodies in 6 weeks: 99.994%

Probability of detecting antibodies in 7 weeks: 99.99986%

Probability of detecting antibodies in 8 weeks: 99.999999979%

There are several ways to test for HIV, and you can choose according to your situation:

1. Various local disease control centers (epidemic prevention stations): queue up, see a doctor, draw blood, and get the results. Testing at the CDC is free, but you need to bring your ID card. The results are usually available in about a week. Advantages: free, accurate results; Disadvantages: slightly slower speed.

2. Regular hospital (recommended 3A hospital): register, see the doctor, write a prescription, pay, draw blood, and get the result. Testing in the hospital is charged, about 100 yuan, the price will vary slightly in different places, no need to bring ID card, generally the result will be available in about 2 days. Advantages: accurate results. Disadvantages: relatively troublesome and charged.

3. Use HIV test strips (recommended): Individuals use HIV professional test kits to test HIV antibodies by themselves. This test kit is a rapid diagnostic kit with excellent sensitivity and specificity. It takes 15 minutes to get results. It is fast, accurate and reliable. It is easy to operate and can be operated by individuals. Since self-testing is more conducive to protecting personal privacy, it increases the enthusiasm of individuals to test for HIV. Advantages: fast, accurate and reliable results, better guarantee of privacy. Disadvantages: Fees.

Therefore, we recommend that friends who have engaged in high-risk behaviors undergo testing at 6 weeks and 2 months respectively. Of course, they can also start testing after 2 weeks in order to gradually relieve psychological pressure.