Question
What is seroconversion and what are the symptoms?
10 February 2023. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission.
Answer
HIV seroconversion is a very early stage of HIV infection. It is the time when a person first develops antibodies for HIV.
At this point an HIV antibody test will still be negative. The word just means that your sero status is converting from being HIV antibody negative to HIV antibody positive.
Seroconversion usually occurs starts 1-3 weeks after infection, with average time being around 10 days. Although 4 in 5 people (80%) get symptoms, 1 in 5 (20%) do not.
Seroconversion does not occur if you are on PEP, because PEP drugs suppress the virus. The timing mentioned above would start after the last PEP dose – ie 10 days after the PEP ends.
Symptoms
The symptoms of HIV seroconversion resemble those of a heavy cold or flu.
They commonly involve multiple symptoms that all occur at the same time. They last about a week and then resolve. If you get this heavy response and recently had a risk, it is more important to contact a doctor or clinic. This can decide your level of risk and the best time to test.
However, lots of people get some of these symptoms and it does not mean they are HIV positive. Stress and anxiety can produce similar general symptoms even though without HIV. This includes tiredness from not sleeping, anxiety and worry.
The most common HIV seroconversion symptoms include a combination of several of the following:
- Fatigue (tiredness).
- Fever (high temperature).
- Sore throat.
- Rash.
- Headache.
- Loss of appetite.
- Aching muscles and joints.
- Swollen lymph glands.
Seroconversion involves several symptoms that all start at the same time. Only having one or two of these symptoms is unlikely to be HIV.
These symptoms are not a reliable way of diagnosing HIV infection.
Firstly, 20% of people who become infected with HIV have no symptoms. Secondly, none of the symptoms listed above, on their own, are an indication of HIV.
However, if you get several of these symptoms at the same time AND you have had a recent risk of exposure to HIV, then this MIGHT be an indication of infection.
The only way to know if you are HIV positive is by taking an HIV test. More information on tests is at this link.
If you have recently been exposed to HIV, or think you may have been exposed to HIV, then contact a doctor or sexual health clinic to talk about whether testing for HIV is appropriate.
This answer was updated in 2016, 2018 and 2023 from an original Q&A from 2008. i-Base no longer answers individual questions about HIV transmission and risk. (See: Question 1 at this link).
I’m sorry but i-Base no longer answers individual questions about risks of HIV transmission or HIV testing.
This service is based on information relating to treatment of people who are HIV positive.
Most testing questions are already answered on the FAQ page:
https://i-base.info/qa/faq/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Our guide to HIV Testing and risks of sexual transmission guide has more detailed and easy to read information about these topics. It can be read online at this link:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing
Thanks for this forum or board. I have a few question? Can a newly infected person manifest all the symptoms like thrush, low temperature, fever, night sweating burning feeting, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, muscle weakness, itchy eye, druming eyes, painful mensuration, rumbling stomach etc. Do all set off at once or comes one after the other? Can anxiety cause them all too? I know the best answer is test but while waiting out the longest 3months of a persons life an answer might help prepare the person for the worse.hoping for an answer, thanks.
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My question pertains to seroconversion. You state above that. ” HIV seroconversion is the time in which a person develops antibodies for HIV but does not yet test positive on an HIV antibody test”.
My question is, how long after this seroconversion (with symptoms) will you body produce enough detectable antibodies that will show a positive result on a test? In other words, is seroconversion the start of the body’s antibody production and it takes days, weeks, or months to produce enough to be detected? Also, all your data seems to be based on 4th generation test. Does all of these window periods change if you had a first generation test done? Thanks
Hi Rob,
For information about the accuracy of HIV tests please take a look at our guide to testing and sexual transmission
One week after unprotected sex I had slightly swollen lymph nodes in my neck and a lingering headache. This lasted about a week.
I had a HIV test at two weeks to try and ease my mind. I know this is hardly accurate but it came back negative.
Should I still be worried?
I’m so stressed waiting for the 3 month window period to get tested again.
Goodness me. I would strongly suggest you contact a clinical psychologist. These anxieties may proove more detrimental to your health than a possible HIV the way it goes. Then, the chances of you being infected via the route you described are almost non-existent and you as a medical professional know that. I am sure everything will be fine.
Lymph nodes enlarge because your immune cells in the lymph nodes are responding to an infection. The infection does not have to be HIV.
Seroconversion, in rare cases, can last many months, although if this was the case this would be a reason to start treatment.
Most people only have symptoms for a week or two, or they have no symptoms at all.
Can lymph nodes enlarge without any cause?
Also, how many weeks does the longest seroconversion last and why can it last a long time?