Dear Counsellor:

Sometime ago I had unprotected sex with someone whom I would consider a total stranger. I got tested for HIV four months after that encounter and I felt sure I was not infected until a friend of mine told me that I did the test too early. Please tell me how soon after unprotected sex should the HIV test be done?

- Richie

Dear Richie:

Your friend is not entirely correct in advising you. It is all right for you to do the HIV test as early as eight weeks after exposure to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The average person produces antibodies (the substance in the blood that the test looks for) to HIV eight weeks after exposure. What you really need to do now is to take personal responsibility for protecting yourself, that is, to limit the number of sex partners you may have to one, use a condom every time you have sex or abstain from all sexual contact.

For more information on condom use, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, call the AIDS/STD Helpline at 967-3830, 967-3764 or toll free at 1888-991-4444, or write to AIDS Affairs, c/o the Star, 7 North Street, Kingston.