Douglas T. Dieterich, M. D.Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cabrini Medical Center
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine NYU School of Medicine
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.I read on your site that it may take "more months" to show HIV antibodies if someone was already HCV positive. Can you please clarify this. If a person already has hepatitis C and they may have been exposed to HIV recently, is a 3 month window period still the time to wait? Or is it longer? And please give me an idea as to how much longer. Thanks.
Douglas T. Dieterich, M. D.
Chief of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Cabrini Medical Center
Assoc. Prof. of Medicine NYU School of Medicine
There has been some information indicating that a longer window might occur when two infections are acquired simultaneously. However one after the other does not fit that bill. I don't believe in waiting for windows anyway. If you have a real risk for HCV, get HCV RNA tests done and also liver enzymes. If the enzymes are elevated then you likely will have it. The same risks for HCV are those for HBV so you should be tested for that too. If you are negative for A and B then you need to get vaccinated!
060705
ASKD060707
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, John M. Lloyd Foundation, Roche and Trimeris, the National Library of Medicine, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.