First hiv test positive second negative. You do not have HIV (based on the window period and no recent risks). It is possible for an individual to test positive for HIV even though they are, in reality HIV-negative. Elite controller status is rare. If you did have a recent exposure, then ask your health care provider if you need a follow-up test. Newer testing strategies use a combination antigen/antibody test. If you test again after the window period and it comes back negative, no possible HIV exposure during that time, and your result is negative, you do not have HIV. This test detects the presence of both HIV antibodies and the p24 antigen, but cannot differentiate between HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection. . Learn what the lines on the HIV testing cassette mean, and what to do if a test is invalid. You may need to repeat the test more than 3 months after your possible exposure if your results are negative. Individuals who have TB or other serious medical conditions and test HIV negative are highly likely to be truly HIV negative and do not need re-testing to confirm their initial HIV status. Accuracy of HIV test results can vary depending on which test you get and how soon after the exposure you’re tested. Any positive antibody or antibody-antigen test needs to be confirmed with a second test – either another HIV antibody test or a test called the Western Blot. You may wonder, if the virus is undetectable in my blood, will I still test positive on an HIV test? If you get an HIV test after a potential HIV exposure and the result is negative, get tested again after the window period for the test you took. A false positive is a test result that says a person has HIV when, in fact, they do not have it. Some testing sites also use a test that looks In 2007, [42] Morrison began fighting again having tested negative for HIV several times that year, [43][44] after a decade away from the ring. To understand what your test results mean, you first have to understand what kind of test is being used and what a "window period" is. Indeterminate: means that the test did not show whether or not you have HIV. After exposure to HIV, it takes time for enough HIV to grow inside of you for a test to be able to detect it; this is called the “window period. A positive test result is routinely confirmed using a different type of test called western blot. [43] After passing medical tests in Texas, West Virginia licensed Morrison to fight in that state, so in February of that year he fought and beat John Castle by a second round TKO, knocking him down in False negative results most often occur when people test in the first few weeks after infection, during the ‘window period’. The western blot test looks for immune responses to specific HIV proteins and is 100% accurate as a confirmatory test. The earlier answer is kept online to explain the complications of HIV teting. A positive result means that HIV antibodies were found and that you may have HIV. The ideal HIV screening test would correctly identify all HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals 100% of the time. HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation immunoassay: this test looks for antibodies in the blood; there are two versions that give results in an hour or less. Using a sensitive antigen/antibody HIV test, of those who are infected, most will test positive at 1 month; almost all will test positive at 3 months; and the rest will test positive at 6 months. If your result is negative but other things seem to point to HIV as a possibility, you should have the test repeated later. HIV treatment which is working well will keep an HIV infected person’s viral load low so it cannot be detected in these tests. We explain why. It doesn’t always mean that a person hasn’t contracted the virus. [1] Establishing a diagnosis of HIV has important implications for both HIV treatment and prevention. Some tests, like the lab-based 4th generation combo tests, are better at detecting early infections, but even those have a limit. Per the CDC recommended HIV testing algorithm, the initial screening test is the HIV antigen-antibody detection test, HIV-1/2 combination immunoassay (HIV 1/2 Ag/Ab), which can be reactive/positive as early as 11 to 15 days after initial infection. The Still being scared after a negative test for HIV can be a reaction to uncertainty or stress. It's the time between being exposed to HIV and when a test can correctly find it. Tests that help diagnose people with HIV have become more reliable and easier to do since the virus was first discovered. This could happen if you have another medical condition that interfered with the test or you have been infected recently. Neurosyphilis is highly unlikely with a negative CSF FTA-ABS or TP-PA test, especially among persons with nonspecific neurologic signs and symptoms (587). If you have any symptoms that may be caused be acute HIV infection, you should be retested immediately, with an HIV viral load test included. If the result is positive and the health care personnel is at low risk, administer a second test. • Negative or non-reactive means you are HIV negative. Most HIV screening tests look for HIV antigen (part of the HIV virus) or for HIV antibodies (produced by the person's body), or may look for both. If you test again after the window period, have no possible HIV exposure during the window period, and the result comes back negative, you do not have HIV. False positives are not rare, false negative tests are extremely unlikely. A faint dot on a rapid test may not be a positive result. While many HIV tests are extremely accurate, they do not achieve 100% accuracy. Learn about the window period for HIV testing and the importance of regular testing for accurate diagnosis. Testing for HIV: Beyond the Basics provides comprehensive information on HIV testing, including methods, interpretation, and implications for patient care. Multiple negative HIV tests, including RNA PCR, confirm HIV absence. A negative result may also be the result of ART (anti-retroviral treatment) which reduces the amount of HIV in the body. UK guidelines recommend a window period of six weeks for a 4th generation antigen/antibody test (BHIVA/BASHH 2020). Testing after only four weeks will detect 95% of infections. If your first test was a rapid antibody test taken just days after exposure, there’s a high chance it was too early to be conclusive. ” Test for HIV-2 when clinical evidence suggests HIV disease but HIV-1 tests are negative 1, 2 If HIV-2 EIA is repeatedly reactive with negative/indeterminate HIV-1 Western blot, send specimen to state public health laboratory for HIV-2 supplemental testing 3 If your first test is negative and there’s a chance that you took the test too soon to detect HIV exposure, take a second test after the window period has passed. Visit our FAQ and blog to learn everything about HIV testing. The Australian standard for HIV testing window periods is 3 months after a potential exposure. Learn why a person may still have anxiety here. Depending on the test you take, you can get preliminary results in as quickly as 20 minutes. Find out about the types of HIV tests, when to get an HIV test, and how long it takes to get HIV test results. HIV tests check blood or other body fluids to see if you're infected. An indeterminate HIV test result could mean that the person is in the early stages of HIV infection, a time during which an HIV test might show a result somewhere between negative and positive. Jan 23, 2026 · A positive HIV test result must always be confirmed by additional HIV testing performed in a health care setting. Some people who took part in an HIV vaccine study might show signs of HIV even though they are HIV negative. Understand what false positive and false negative HIV test results mean, why they happen, and how to follow up with the right support. During this time, you may have HIV, but this test can't detect it. Learn more about the types of HIV tests and their accuracy. During the window period, someone can be very infectious but still test HIV negative. View guidance on what you should do and what to expect after testing positive for HIV, plus resources for people with HIV. With rapid HIV tests, a positive result must be confirmed by a second test, because falsely positive results sometimes happen. First, understand the type of HIV test you received. How is this test done? Rapid HIV testing is done with a sample of either blood or saliva. Results from laboratory tests are given as negative, positive or indeterminate. Rapid blood tests show two lines if positive or one line if negative, in a similar way as a pregnancy test (see Figure 8). When an HIV-positive person is on effective treatment, a routine test known as a viral load test will often show that the virus is undetectable. How soon after exposure to HIV can an individual be confident that a negative test indicates they do not have HIV? The information given in UK testing guidelines about window periods is based on answers to the second question – specifically, how long after exposure to HIV 99% of infections will be detected by a specific type of test. The test can also pick up antibodies from a recent vaccine, pregnancy, autoimmune conditions like arthritis or lupus or from chemicals like bilirubin that are made by your body. If a supplementary test is negative or indeterminate, more testing must be done to know someone’s HIV status. Always believe a negative report (after the window period), but do not believe an unconfirmed Depending on when you were tested for HIV, you may need another test to be sure that you were not in the window period during the first test. Learn what your HIV test results mean including positive and negative results. Learn more about false-positive HIV test results, including why it happens, who may be at risk, and best practices for retesting after initial results. NEGATIVE If pregnant/breastfeeding: Initiate ART same day Do HIV ELISA Final HIV positive/negative result depends on ELISA results Source: National consolidated guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and the management of HIV in children, adolescents, and adults, December 2014. Sep 23, 2025 · It's the time between being exposed to HIV and when a test can correctly find it. Learn how to interpret your HIV test results with this comprehensive guide. If an individual receiving an HIV-negative test result fits into either of the above categories, then that individual should be asked to come back for re-testing. Testing earlier than 6 weeks still needs a second test to confirm a negative result. The person should be provided with post-test counselling messages appropriate for HIV-negative persons, as per the site's standard protocol for HIV testing and counselling. While some test’s window periods are shorter than this, if you receive a negative test result at 3 months after your potential exposure to HIV and you’ve had no risk of transmission during that time, it’s pretty safe to say you do not have HIV. Document result. In such a case the negative test is to be believed. A repeat test in a clinic to confirm a positive result and get linked to appropriate prevention, treatment and care is essential. How HIV Is Diagnosed An HIV-positive diagnosis means that tests have confirmed the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in your body. Are HIV tests accurate? What about rapid HIV tests? What if my first test is positive and the second test is negative? How accurate is a test at 14, 27, 49, 90 days etc? Does a negative result mean I do not have HIV? Is a negative result 100% accurate? What are false-negative and false-positive results? Do I need to take another test? In general, testing for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a 2-step process that involves a screening test and follow-up tests often called confirmatory tests. So if you have an HIV test with a negative result within three months of your last possible exposure to HIV, the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] recommends that you be retested three months after that first screening test. Get clear guidance on what to expect from an HIV test and next steps. It is a process in which a preliminary test is followed by one or more confirmatory tests to ensure an accurate diagnosis. So, if the HIV test is conducted within the window period, the HIV test result will be negative, or known as false negative. If your test result is negative, and you haven’t had a possible exposure during the previous three months, you can be confident you don’t have HIV. You can test at home HIV self-testing kits are available in many countries, and are becoming available in many more, so people can find out their status at any time, in the privacy of their home. Learn more about the reasons for the result and taking measures to prevent HIV. Understand what each result means and what steps to take next. Some testing sites also use a test that looks A viral load test is significant because it allows healthcare providers to monitor changes related to HIV infection, determine how an HIV positive person will be treated, and monitor the success of treatment. Background HIV Testing and the Care Continuum Diagnostic testing is the crucial first step in the HIV care continuum (Figure 1). ” A negative HIV test result means that the specific test that was used didn’t detect HIV. Absence of antibodies in the ‘window period’ of HIV infection and successful treatment can render HIV undetectable. A: Yes, it is possible that the first test comes positive and that a second, subsequent test gives a negative report. If you had a blood test in a health care setting or a lab, the lab will conduct a follow-up test on the same blood sample as the first test. You may need additional testing for acute HIV. By this time 99% of infections will be detected (see Figure 7). When that happens, it is important to take a second test after the window period to determine a more accurate test result. Testing negative for HIV does not mean that you are immune to the virus, so it is important to continue protecting yourself. If your test result is negative, it means you do not have HIV, unless you had a recent exposure. Among persons with HIV infection, CSF leukocyte count can be elevated (>5 WBCs/mm 3); the association with CSF leukocyte count and plasma HIV viral suppression has not been well characterized. If you feel sick or have symptoms that might be caused by acute HIV infection (see What are the symptoms?), see your provider right away. Note: Since 2021, UK guidelines recommend that a negative result at six weeks using a 4th generation HIV Ag/Ab test does NOT need to be confirmed with a second test. Learn more about the factors that affect HIV test accuracy. Learn about HIV testing, including when to test for HIV, types of HIV tests, and how to interpret results. If you've been tested for HIV, or if you're considering an HIV test, you may have questions about the accuracy of the results. Regular, early HIV screening is key for preventing and treating HIV, but false-positive and false-negative tests still happen — especially in the first few weeks after infection. Oct 25, 2022 · HIV Testing An HIV test can detect if you have human immunodeficiency virus. If the result of the second test is also positive (for health care personnel at low risk) or the health care personnel is at risk, consider the health care personnel to be infected with TB and evaluate for TB disease. HIV is an STI that makes it hard for your body to fight infections. This is called vaccine-induced seropositivity. If the HIV 1/2 Ab test is positive but the western blot test is negative, the test is considered indeterminate and further testing with HIV RNA need to be done. May 6, 2025 · Learn what your HIV test results mean including positive and negative results. If you get an HIV test outside of a health care setting or lab—such as at a community-based organization, mobile testing van, or elsewhere —you will likely receive a rapid HIV test. A summary comparison of two HIV screening approaches: new and old Please note that with any approach, a positive test needs to be confirmed with a different HIV test. A false-positive HIV test occurs when a test incorrectly indicates that a person has contracted the virus. Find out what it means to be HIV negative at 3 months and positive at 6 months. If a supplementary test is positive for either kind of antibody after a reactive screening test, then the person is HIV positive. wvdqd, tgsg, sxux, zpp6, tl2om, ro5j, 5fps, q70s, kqwtl, vbdu,