Important note: Information in this Q&A was accurate in 2009. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. I had a rapid HIV test done at 11 weeks after exposure (receptive vaginal) and I was wondering how conclusive is that? I am pregnant, does that interfr with the results?
As with all antibody tests - whether the rapid kind or the standard blood draw - it is recommended that a negative test at three months be repeated in another three months. Fortunately, the vast majority of those who have picked up HIV are positive at three months.
The complicating issues is that you are pregnant, and you would not want to wait until late in the pregnancy to discover that you are HIV positive. By that time, there would not be enough time for the HIV medications to get your viral load down to undetectable, which is very important to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV to your baby.
I would talk to your obstetrician about the option of doing an HIV DNA PCR tests. This test will find the virus within one week of exposure and does not depend on waiting for antibodies to be produced. If that test is negative, then case closed. If it is positive, then you have more time to plan for HIV treatment through your obstetrician.
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