I’ve heard that there is a window period of up to six months? Is this right? How long should I wait to get tested after having sex?

Each time you have unprotected sex, you put yourself at risk of contracting HIV. The HIV test cannot detect the antibodies in your blood for up to six weeks after the virus has entered your body. In other words, if you get infected today and you go for a test tomorrow, your test will be negative, even if you have been infected. That is why you are advised to repeat the test after three months. However, in between the tests, you should either abstain from sex or use a condom correctly each time you have sex. This is because although the test may not show that you are infected, during this period you are very infectious and may spread the virus very easy.

Please remember that the test does not prevent you from contracting HIV – your behaviour does. It is very important to make sure that even if after two tests you test negative you adopt safer sex as your sexual practice. That is the only thing that will protect you from contracting HIV.