Bit of Misinformation

I must point out a serious bit of misinformation in Carolyn See’s book review of “Tangled Up in Blue” (May 8). Regarding AIDS, she writes that “. . . most physicians agree that there can be up to a seven-year lead time before others test positive . . .”

See has misinterpreted information concerning HIV-positive status and clinical display of symptoms. Once a person has been exposed to the virus, he or she will shortly thereafter (four to six weeks) test positive for the HIV antibody. The virus may then be seemingly dormant (that is without the person experiencing symptoms of the syndrome) for a long period of time, or seven years on the average.

The thing all of your readers should know is that if you test negative for HIV, retest negative four to six months later and do not engage in behavior that will expose you to the virus, you will not find yourself inexplicably testing positive seven years down the road.

DAN GERRITY

Los Angeles