Immune response to 1 virus vs another (i.e HSV vs HIV)

[need2know]

I have this hangup about tests / window periods and how long should 1 wait for a test to be %100 conclusive. I'd really like someone to explain to me why if my body takes so long to build antibodies to 1 virus why it would not take the same amount of time for another.

 

Lets take Herpes Type 1 vs Hep B vaccine vs HIV.

 

Some time ago, I had a small nick (from what I thought was shaving) on my left lip and performed oral sex on my girlfriend. 10 Days later she came down ill and was diagnosed with Herpes Type 1...... I didn't think it had anything to do with me but the doctor tells me that it came from me and that's that.... A swab was never taken of my little nick, as it was gone by that stage, but the doctor tells me with %100 confidence that it was a Cold Sore on my face and given the extent of her illness this was her first contact and it happened within 10 days.

 

2 days after she became ill, I had 2 small sore red bumps on my penis, but never got these swabbed. I assumed this was a reaction to me getting it back from her, but down there.... They did not turn into the same sores as hers and went after a few days.

 

I was a little sceptical so I went and had some blood tests run a week after she became ill. I came back Neg for IGG's and IGM and the type specific came back Neg for type 1 and type 2. These tests results said the window period was 4 weeks, and talking to the experts they say %100 certain at 16 weeks. So I went back again and again and again and again until finally 10 months later my type specific came back for type 1 (cold sores). 10 MONTHS! I asked the experts and they said that sometimes it just takes longer.....

 

So next point;

 

I went for my Hep B vaccine, had the first one, then the second one, then 6 months later I went for a routine STD test as I had a dodgey encounter and by chance the doc ran the Hep B which came back as 0 immunity. Statistics say that by the second injection that %80 should have some level of immunity. It wasn't until 2 weeks after my 3rd shot did I show full immunity. So again I was delayed in producing antibodies to this!.

 

My question is this..... Given for both these examples above I have showed a delayed reaction in producing antibodies, then does the 3 month window period for tests like the HIV Ab/Ag Combo tests apply to me or should I abide by 6-10 months?

 

I explained my concern to the doctor and she just said, no these are different viruses and different tests. this is %100 fine at 3 months. Now I'm no doctor, but I am curious, and until someone explains this to me then I'm forever going to wonder every time I have to go for a test... not that it's that often, but I'm curious and would like to understand.

 

Is the fact that for both the HSV1 and HepB vaccine I showed that I was late to produce antibodies, any reflection on how long my 'WIndow Period' would be for a HIV test? Is that something that is too hard to explain to someone with no science background?

 

Thanks so much for reading this far I realise I have a tendancy to woffle on!

 

 

Many thanks in advance for your help