What does testing positive for HIV mean? What is meant by the window period? How does a false positive relate to it?
A window period is a recommended waiting period to receive an accurate HIV test result. Generally, it is a six-week to six-month period from the moment of your last unsafe sex encounter to the moment that you receive a HIV screening. This is the time your body uses to create antibodies in the blood stream, which signify exposure to HIV. This process is known as seroconversion.It is important when receiving an HIV test to ask what kind of test is being used. Whenever someone is screened for HIV, two types of tests are used. They are, 1) a reactive test, and 2) a confirmatory test. A reactive HIV test indicates if HIV antibodies are in the blood (such as the Elisa Test). A reactive test may give a false positive reading to anyone with kidney or renal failure, to a woman that has had multiple pregnancies, anyone receiving the influenza vaccine, or to anyone that has received gamma globulin. When a reactive test has a negative result, that means no HIV antibodies were detected. But in order to receive an accurate reading, the CDC recommends you wait a specific window period: six weeks to six months and either abstain from all sexual activity, or practice safe sex in every sexual situation, and then get a confirmatory test, such as the Western Blot Test.
A confirmatory test (such as the Western Blot) provides the HIV status of a person. A positive test result on a confirmatory test means that the person has been infected with HIV, has HIV antibodies in his or her blood, and can infect others.
Being HIV positive does not mean that the person has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or that it is 100% guaranteed that the person will get AIDS, though research has shown that it is likely to happen.
We know that gay men are at higher risk for HIV. What about lesbian women?
HIV is a virus without any preference of sexual orientation, gender, race, or class. It is important to remember that just because a couple is composed of two women, neither party is immune to HIV.HIV can be transmitted when infected blood and/or vaginal secretions come into contact with a woman's genitals, mouth or with open cuts anywhere on the body. Hence, it is important that when making physical contact to cover the hand with a latex glove. Nothing should be inserted directly in the vagina or around the genital area or anus after it has been in a woman's vagina. This can spread vaginal infections and STDs.
Oral sex between lesbians may still pose a threat for HIV transmission. A dental dam, a split latex glove, or condom is recommended as safety precautions to be used during lesbian sex in order to protect both parties.
For more information
You can find our more about women and HIV/AIDS by contacting the following organizations:AIDS Clinical Trials
Information Service (ACTIS)
Phone: (800) 874-2572 or TDD (800) 243-7012
CDC National Prevention
Information Network
Phone: (800) 458-5231
HIV AIDS Treatment
Information Service
Phone: (800) 448-0440 or TDD (800)-243-7012
National Center for HIV, STD
and TB Prevention Voice Information System
Phone: (888) CDC-FACT
National Institute on Drug
Abuse Hotline
Phone: (800) 662-HELP (4357) or (800)-66-AYUDA (662-9832)
Office of Population Affairs
Clearinghouse
Phone: (301) 654-6190
American Foundation for AIDS
Research
Phone: (202) 331-8600
Adapted from the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services.
