Pregnant Women The antibody test may not be appropriate for a pregnant woman who has had recent exposure to HIV. If she is trying to decide whether to continue or terminate her pregnancy, she cannot afford the three to six month waiting period the antibody test requires. In such cases, the viral load test may be ordered by a physician to help the woman make more...

The “window period” is the time it takes for a person who has been infected with HIV to seroconvert (test positive) for HIV antibodies. Antibodies generally appear within three months after infection with HIV, but may take up to six months in some rare cases. You may have heard other time periods Remember, despite intensive research on HIV, it is a...

As the body fights viruses, it creates antibodies to that virus. HIV antibody tests measure the presence of antibodies to HIV. They do not measure or detect the virus itself. There are three commonly used antibody tests. Why Should You be Tested? Pros If you know you are HIV-positive, you can take advantage of immune system monitoring and early treatment and...