Question
I have had 3 negative HIV tests – have I got HIV?
14 May 2010. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission.
I had unprotected vaginal sex with a friend 14 weeks ago. Since then I have had range of symptoms such as a white tongue, nausea, sore throat, muscle pains, pins and needles etc. I went for full STI screening at five and a half weeks and it was all clear including a 28 day, fourth generation finger prick test for HIV. Then symptoms started at week 8/9. I had a second 28 day, fourth generation test at nine and a half weeks, it was also negative. I was still panicking so I had a third fourth generation test at eleven weeks and two days, it was again negative.
My doctor told me there was no need to wait until twelve weeks as 4th generation tests are accurate from 28 days. I still have the symptoms. Do I have HIV?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
I am sorry to hear you are unwell. If you have had 3 negative HIV tests then you do not have HIV. It could be your anxiety causing these symptoms or maybe another infection altogether.
HIV tests are very accurate at 4 weeks after a possible exposure (they will pick up 95% of infections). By about 12 weeks they pick up more than 99.99% 0f infections.
More importantly, these negative results rule out the possibility that HIv is causing your symptoms. If your symptoms were caused by HIV, these tests would have picked it up.
For more information about HIV transmission and testing please follow this link.
Hi Jay,
Please see Q1 here:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
I had sex with a prostitute on May 3 2014 I used a condom I did a HIV test late March 2015 it was negative after I had done it I never had sex since I have done it even up on till now I even become a Christian often I did it did condom did broke and the test said negative but I’ve been feeling weird lately even tho I haven’t had sex since May 3 2014 could the test be wrong????
Hi Jessy,
Please see Q 1 here:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
I had an unprotected sex with a lady who is hiv positive.
I have done nine HIV tests 1,3,5,6,7,9,10,12 and 13 weeks all negative. The 13 week test was 3rd generation Elisa test and the rest were rapid test. Should I rule out HIV infection or should still retest at 6 months?
Please see the answer to your question in full by following this link
I am concerned about HIV after possible exposure in June. I had 3 HIV tests which were all negative at 9wks 15wks and 22wks. 1 month after exposure I have a white furry tongue which went away after 2wks and a rash on my cheek which I have had for a year now. I had a biopsy which showed low positive for lupus but no pains plus my immune system is overactive rheumatoid factor 19 and anti nuclear antigen low positive. Do you have any idea of a desease or virus I could have caught causing these problems? My white blood cells are normal. Could it be something like hypochondria? I also had syphilis and hepatitis B and series of other tests. I just want to know the cause and what other tests to have?