Question

What does HIV negative mean?

14 November 2007. Related: All topics, HIV transmission.

I don’t understand what HIV-negative means. Please explain this to me.

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

An HIV negative test result means someone does not have HIV.

More accurately, it means there were no HIV antibodies in the blood sample, which tell you the HIV status several weeks earlier.

If someone was recently infected – in the window period before the body develops antibodies – the a second test is recommended a few months later.

For further information see the other questions on testing.

Note: this answer was last updated in January 2017 from a question in November 2017.