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From: Richard.Dewald@p0.f70.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Richard Dewald)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: Antibody reaction time.
Message-ID: <1991May10.133153.4935@cs.ucla.edu>
Date: 10 May 91 13:10:14 GMT
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The question is difficult to answer definitvely because we still don't know 
the exact dynamics of infection.  Does it require multiple exposures?  Does it 
require cofactors such as mycoplasmas?  Is there a local infection first that 
develops into a systemic infection?  How long does that take?  Does the level 
of wellness at the exposure effect the time to seroconversion?
 
The best answer we have is six months.  In the college sex-ed program, we 
suggest that a couple get an intial ELISA, practice safe sex for six months, 
and then get an additional ELISA at that time.  If they are both negative, 
then they can move on to conception or whatever.  That is all contingent on 
certainty of fidelity.
 
In other situations where one partner was known to be HIV+ after unprotected 
sex with a significant other, I have seen a sugestion of an ELISA at six 
months and then again at a year.
 
I know that's not very satisfying.  Hopefully, as our knowledge grows we will 
have better answers.

--  
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