Question
Will HIV tests be positive if viral load is undetectable?
26 September 2017. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, HIV testing, South Africa.
If my viral load is undetectable and I do an HIV test, will it show a positive result?
Answer
Hi
Viral load tests look for how much virus can be found in a sample of blood.
HIV tests looks for whether your immune system has ever been in contact with HIV.
As immune responses stay with you for life, even when there is no detectable viral load, the HIV test should always be positive.
Even if an HIV cure is found, the HIV antibody test is likely to still be positive for most people.
However, sometimes people who start ART very soon after infection, might test negative with rapid HIV tests. This is a test problem, thoough – the person still has HIV. Please see this report for details.
Hi Michelle,
If you’re worried about whether you can travel to the US due to your status, this isn’t a problem. Please see the following link:
http://www.hivrestrictions.org/Default.aspx?PageId=143&CountryId=12
If you’re worried because you haven’t told your boyfriend then this is something very different. Are you wanting to tell him? If you are, have you tried introducing the subject of HIV to him in conversation? This may help gauge his possible reaction.
Being able to explain to him that the risk of transmission is close to zero due to you having an undetectable viral load may help. There’s more about this here:
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
I have an American boyfriend and I haven’t told him am hiv positive. He now wants me to go visit him. What do I do. I am on arvs and my viral load is undetectable.
Hi Jason,
Please see Q1 here:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
I have tacken three hiv 1/2 anybody test, one at 30days nexted at 3 month then finally at 6months, all negative is there somehow that I could still be positive for Hiv? Say my body did not build up enough antibodies yet somehow? Thanks Jason
Hi Benson,
Please see Q1 here:
https://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions
Hi am benson since 2016 12 06 i have been testing negative i had a lypostrophy disease and nail changing into black nimph nords hard swollowing teeth pain and not in Arvs is this hiv? Pls help
Hi Joel,
If your viral load came back as being undetectable and you aren’t on meds, then its highly unlikely that you’re positive. What was your CD4 count?
Hello, last year end of December(2016) i had HIV tests by 3 methods and two comfirmed positive and one confirmed negative. However doctor said he cannot conclusively decide whether i am positive to start medicaments.he proposed me to do Pcr and viral load and after more than a month the result came undetected. What does this mean? Do i have to re test again? I need to know whether it’s positive or not, coz i need to start treatments as early as possible.
Thank you
Hi Leonardo,
Everyone who lives in the Netherlands should have some form of health insurance. This includes students from overseas. Please see here:
https://www.government.nl/topics/health-insurance
https://www.soaaids.nl/en/information-for/diversity/topics/healthcare-netherlands
Therefore, if you’re going to study in the Netherlands you will need insurance be this for accessing HIV meds, or any other health conditions that you may have during your time in the Netherlands.
Having a test and being surprised will not matter, because you’ll be expected to have insurance. Doctors would also know that you’d been taking Atripla. Before you apply for a visa, I would advise that you contact the Dutch embassy, they’d be able to give you more info.
Hi I’m from south east Asia where ARVs are free, Atripla. I just found out I’m positive and I want to study in the Netherlands. I’ve heard that if you know that you’re positive before you apply to the Netherlands for an entry visa that HIV care won’t be covered.
Can I move there and wait for a month and get myself tested and act surprised. Will they know I took atripla before? I can’t afford to buy it.