Q and A

Question

How can my partner test HIV positive and I test HIV negative?

16 January 2018. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission, Newly diagnosed, Sero different couples.

I went to test HIV with my partner.

I found out that she is positive and I was negative. After six months i went back I tested negative.

Please help as I don’t understand.

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Thanks for your question as your situation is very common.

Has your partner’s  positive HIV test been checked by a second test in a lab. All rapid tests, need a positive result to be confirmed. This is because of the small chance of a false-positive result.

If the second test (called “western blot”) is positive then your partner is definitely positive. In this case, how is your partner doing and does she have support?

Even if your partner is HIV positive, it is common for one person in a couple to test positive and the other negative. This can happen even if they have bot been using condoms. This is mostly just luck. Over time, most people will catch HIV if they continue to have sex without a condom.

Even though you have not caught HIV so far, you can still catch HIV in the future. Genetics may explain some cases of protection, but most are just down to luck and chance.

Now you know your partners HIV status, you can still stay together and have sex safely. Condoms or PrEP are both really effective at stopping HIV and not sharing needles.

Also, after your partner gets an undetectable viral load on treatment, the risk drops to zero – even without condoms. The PARTNER study reported no transmission with an undetectable viral load. this was after about 900 couple had sex 58,000 without condoms (over several years).

Note: This answer was updated in January 2018 and October 2014 from a question from June 2011. i-Base no longer answers individual questions about HIV transmission and risk. (See: Question 1, 5, 6 and 9 at this link).

335 comments

  1. Simon Collins •

    If both partners are positive the main reason to use condoms is to prevent pregnancy or STIs.

    Information about HIV transmission and testing are already online at the FAQ page.
    https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

    or in this guide:
    http://i-base.info/guides/testing

  2. Petronella •

    I also tested positive but we are not using condom with my partner

  3. Simon Collins •

    Hi Sindisiwe

    Answers to questions on transmission and testing are already online at the FAQ page.
    https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

    or in this guide:
    http://i-base.info/guides/testing

    Most people with show positive within 3-4 weeks but about 5% taking up to 2 months and a few people longer still. This partly depends on which test you are using.

  4. Sindisiwe •

    Hi
    How long does it take for an hiv to react in ones blood, meaning change from negative to positive.
    And also if you using prep treatment at what time that you can be sure that it worked
    You are truly HIV negative

  5. Simon Collins •

    Hi Elizabeth. It is good that you know your HIV status. If you are not using condoms, then until you partner takes a test then it might be better to only use condoms so you know you are looking after your health. Or not have sex at all. This might help your partner change his mind. I don’t know why people are afreaid fo taking a test. It is always better to know the result – whether positive or negative.

  6. Elizabeth •

    i tested negative 3 months ago. but am scared about my partner becos he has refused to go for a test.

  7. Simon Collins •

    Hi Kuhle. It sounds like this is something to talk about with your new partner. The only way to know your status is to HIV an HIV test. The same is true for your partner. It is better to assumes your partners are positive and to use condoms until you know this for certain.

  8. Kuhle •

    I recently met a wonderful man in my life. He seems to be mre than I wish him to be. M so proud of him. M 23 n he’s 34, he told me that her x was positive and they once had sex withou
    t the condom. He’s not sure if he is positive either. M worried. Cn he be positive?

  9. Simon Collins •

    This depends on when your last HIV test was. Because HIV is difficult to catch, the chance is much more likely that you are negative, but you need to test to check.

  10. Yunice •

    I have a 4 months old son. I tested negative 3 times during pregnancy. But my husband just tested positive on 19th August.
    I have been on exclusive breastfeeding.
    My fear before I and baby go for test on monday is, what are our chances of being negative?