While counseling a health care worker who experienced an occupational exposure to HIV after being stuck by a scalpel used for surgery on a patient with HIV, the occupational health nurse discusses the "window period."
During this period of time, the body has not yet produced antibodies. The "window period" may have a duration of:
A) 1 to 2 weeks after exposure
B) 2 to 4 months after exposure
C) 3 weeks to 6 months after exposure
D) 2 to 5 years after exposure
Ans: C
Feedback: During the "window period," antibodies to HIV are not present in the blood, as the body has not yet produced the antibodies. The "window period" is usually 3 weeks to 6 months after exposure to the HIV infection. The patient should continue to take precautions, as negative test results during this period of time do not mean than the patient is immune to the virus or has not been infected; it simply means that the body has not produced antibodies yet.
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