Question
Did my first test miss my HIV infection?
11 March 2014. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed.
I was diagnosed with HIV about a week ago and when I did my test in October it was negative. Could I have been actually getting HIV when I was sick in September?
Answer
Hello,
I am very sorry to hear about your recent diagnoisis- do you have any support to help you deal with this?
HIV infection can take 4 – 12 weeks to show on an HIV test, depending on the type of test used. It is possible, therefore, that you were already infected in September but that this wasn’t picked up on a test in October. You can read more about this, which is called the window period, in our guide to HIV testing and transmission.
ARVs work because they prevent HIV from making more of itself. To do this effectively you will have to consistently take them for the rest of your life. Treatment today is very effective. A person living with HIV who is on treatment can often expect to live as long as someone who is HIV negative.
How long do i have to take ARVs?
Hi Andrew
I am sorry about your wife’s diagnosis.
Lots of couples are in the same situation and still have children.
This guide to HIV and pregnancy includes information about how to have a baby when one partner is positive and the other is negative.
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Hello,
My wife has tested HIV positive and am HIV negative,How can we have baby without I be infected?