HIV is known to affect the human body and cause dreaded disease “AIDS”. But, sometimes we are not even aware as to our body has acquired the HIV infection. The HIV window period may be defined as the time taken by one’s body to produce HIV antibodies after one has been infected by the HIV. It has been observed that in most people infected with HIV, the HIV window period ranges from 2 and 12 weeks. But, in a few cases this period may extend up to as long as six months. This period is mainly dependent on the time required for seroconversion (the development of detectable specific antibodies to microorganisms in the blood serum as a result of the infection). Although during the HIV window period the result of the HIV tests is negative but still the infection is present inside the body and so it should not be overlooked.

Let us consider an example to elaborate more about as to what is the window period. For instance, if by any chance one has been infected with the virus, say on Monday then the test so carried out on such an individual don’t show a positive result on Thursday of the same week as the body doesn’t have had a chance to form antibodies which the HIV tests like ELISA, Western Blot etc. is looking for. It has been observed as a general trend that, antibodies are produced from about three weeks after infection and thus are undetecteable.So; mainly HIV window period is the time period between HIV infection and the time when HIV tests are positive. Thus, HIV window period is the period between the transfer of the HIV into the body of a healthy individual & appearance of those detectable antibodies in the HIV test.

Although HIV is not detected by any test conducted during the HIV window period, still chances are that HIV transmission can take place during that time. In fact, individuals are observed to be often most infectious during this time. People who are exposed to or who practice high-risk behavior are advised to go in for repeated tests after three to six months – and are advised to follow safer sex practices like condoms while waiting for their results and are also advised not to undergo blood transfusion or any other process which can lead to HIV transmission by any chance in any form whatsoever.

Thus, Our HIV test will be positive only if we are exposed to the virus after the end of window period or when the HIV antibodies are formed in response to infection in our body.