Window Period

The window period is the time between when you are exposed to HIV and when a blood test will be able to measure the antibodies your immune system creates to fight HIV. It can take anywhere from four weeks to three months after HIV enters your body to develop enough antibodies to be measured on an HIV test. Most people will develop enough antibodies to test accurately for HIV from four to six weeks.

There may be some short term symptoms of infection, but without an HIV test you won't know for sure if you have the virus.

Asymptomatic Period

The asymptomatic period is the time when HIV is in your body but your immune system is strong so there may be no symptoms of infection. The virus may be active and harming your immune system but you can feel as healthy as ever.

Symptomatic Period

The symptomatic period is when HIV becomes more active in your body. The virus has weakened your immune system after living in your body for a while. Symptoms of HIV infection may begin to appear, or re-appear.

AIDS Diagnosis

A person is diagnosed with AIDS when he/she has HIV plus one or moreof the illnesses specific to the syndrome. At this stage a person has generally been living with HIV for many years and the immune system is severely damaged.

In most cases one of the "opportunistic infections" will eventually cause the death of the person living with AIDS.

While AIDS can still be a fatal illness, some drugs are now being used that can reduce HIV's damage to the immune system, delay symptoms, prevent opportunistic infections, and prolong life.