Question

Can mouthwash or antibiotics affect HIV results from a mouth swab?

6 February 2008. Related: All topics, HIV testing.

Can using mouthwash or being on antibiotics before your HIV oral testing affect the results?

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

No.

Antibiotics can not affect the test results of the tests based on samples form your mouth. These tests are rarely used in the UK though. They are more popular in the US, and it sounds like you should discuss and worries you have with your medical professional.

The test do not strictly test saliva, but the mucous membrane of your gums.

Mouthwash is unlikely to help the test if you use it straight beforehand. I don’t know the data on this, but I’d expect the recommendations are to NOT use mouthwash before the test.