A doctor uses a HIV PCR test to screen for HIV and claim that there is no window period. Is that true?

A lot of Doctors in Taiwan claimed HIV PCR test detects the virus itself rather than the antibodies. Therefore there is no window period. He said that is because if one is exposed to the virus, it will be in their system. So this is the best and most accurate test without a window period. <--- From my understandings is that you have to get an antibody test after the window period (usually 3 months) and then if your results is positive, they then test you again with a HIV PCR test to see how much virus is actually being produced in your body. I also learned that using HIV PCR test to screen for HIV is not good because during the window period the virus might have not produced much, so might not be able to be detected. Can someone please confirm me is the HIV PCR test in Taiwan used accurately?

It's true that a PCR tests for the virus itself - whereas the Elisa & Western Blot test for antibodies.

Antibodies can take 3 weeks to 3 months to show up in the blood, (some states still call for a 6 month wondow period.)

There is a window period of sorts for the PCR test though. If you were to become infected tonight, you would not have a positive PCR tomorrow. I think it takes between 7 - 14 days for the virus to reproduce enough to get a detectable PCR test.

I know a few doctors in the U.S. who also use PCR tests rather than standard antibody tests.

Is it good or bad? I think it all depends on how comfortable the patient is with the information & when they last may have put themselves at risk.

The best way to confirm whether or not you have HIV is to get tested for it every 6 months.

There is a window period for HIV. When someone tests positive for HIV, they usually conduct confirmatory tests (PCR/western blot is usually one of them). Majority of people who are positive will test as positive in the first 3 weeks following exposure. They use 3 months as the window period because approximately 96% test positive in that time frame. To be absolutely sure, test in the 6 months following time of exposure.