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

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

Lisa Thorley • 24 April 2017

Hi Zakhona,

What your doctor has said is correct. Please also read the above post and Q 1 here:

https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Zakhona • 24 April 2017

My partner tested positive today but I’ve been doing my regular check ups and I’m negative what are my chances of being positive cause Dr advised me to re test .
Lisa Thorley • 24 April 2017

Hi Nokulunga,

Please see the above post.
Nokulunga • 24 April 2017

I just found out that my boyfriend is HIV positive and I tested negative.
Is it possible that I haven’t contracted HIV?
Lisa Thorley • 3 April 2017

Hi John,

I’ve deleted the offence word that you used to describe have of the worlds population. Please see Q1 here:

https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
john • 3 April 2017

I’ve had sex with 30 women, will I get HIV?
Lisa Thorley • 1 April 2017

Hi Nation,

Please see the above post.

Also if your partner is on medication and has an undetectable viral load, then the risk of transmission is close to zero. Please see the results of the PARTNER study for more info:

https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
Nation • 1 April 2017

I’ve been dating my partner now for 2 years. She’s positive, I’m negative. How is this possible?
Lisa Thorley • 15 March 2017

Hi Local,

If the guy you had sex with has an undetectable viral load the risk is close to zero. Please see the results of the PARTNER study for more info:

https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/

If his viral load is detectable, then yes you’re at risk.
LOCAL • 15 March 2017

Hi,
I had sex with a HIV positive guy without using protection….am I at risk?