Is it possible to test negative while you are HIV positive?
A negative result doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t have HIV. This is due to the window period. 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.
Can someone have symptoms of HIV and test is negative?
While many HIV tests are extremely accurate, they do not achieve 100% accuracy. A false negative is a test result that says a person does not have HIV when, in fact, they do. False negative results most often occur when people test in the first few weeks after infection, during the ‘window period’ of a test.
What does it mean if you test negative for HIV?
What does a negative result mean? If your HIV test result comes back negative it means that the test hasn’t found signs of HIV infection. However, if you have been at risk since your last test then you’ll need to test again. Also remember that most HIV tests can only detect HIV one to three months after exposure.
How long can HIV go undetected by test?
This test can detect HIV around 23-90 days after infection. It is possible to receive a false-negative result if you are outside the window period – this means you may have been infected recently but aren’t yet producing HIV antibodies [4].
Can you have a zero viral load?
Having an undetectable viral load does mean that there is not enough HIV in your body fluids to pass HIV on during sex. In other words, you are not infectious. For as long as your viral load stays undetectable, your chance of passing on HIV to a sexual partner is zero.
Can you go from undetectable to detectable?
People also become detectable when they stop taking their HIV medications or take them only partially. It may take between a week to several weeks after stopping HIV treatment for HIV to become detectable again, but people will see the levels of virus in their body go up to detectable levels.
Will I test negative if my viral load is undetectable?
The bottom line is that if you’re living with HIV and have an undetectable viral load, you will still test positive for HIV if you get tested. But, this is expected, and doesn’t mean that your treatment is not working or that you aren’t undetectable.
Can I test negative when my viral load is undetectable?
Having an undetectable of zero viral load does not mean you are HIV negative. If you were to do another HIV antibody test it would come back as being positive.
How long does it take for a viral load to be undetectable?
When a person living with HIV begins an antiretroviral treatment regimen, their viral load drops. For almost everyone who starts taking their HIV medication daily as prescribed, viral load will drop to an undetectable level in six months or less.
Can I test positive if my viral load is undetectable?
You will still test positive for HIV if you are undetectable. HIV tests usually detect antibodies, which are part of your immune system’s response to HIV. People living with HIV who are undetectable still have antibodies to HIV which means you will test positive for HIV even if you have an undetectable viral load.