Hi Thanks for seeking help here. Hiv is a virus. Can transfer to another person through body fluid like vaginal fluid , semen , blood etc The symptoms usually appears after 1 month of exposure n sime cases 3 months ....but rare cases it can be much prolonged too. This way we calculate the window period of virus. The symptoms of hiv depends on the other infection...which directly related to CD4 STATUS. What we suggest ...when get prolong flu like fever, weight loss, untreatable infection, lymph nodes swelling. Definitely go for tests.. ELISA/ HIV COMBO are common tests Confirmation western blot n rna pcr are usually done.