Q and A

Question

Why does i-Base not answer questions on HIV testing and transmission?

Hi i-Base, I have sent several questions about HIV testing and you only send links to information online. Why don’t you answer these questions?

Answer

Thanks.

i-Base is a project focused on HIV treatment. Our services are really for people who are HIV positive and who want to know about treatment.

We sometimes answer questions about both PrEP and PEP, but please look at online info first as most questions are already answered

We are not a service for people worried about their risk of HIV.

We are not a service about HIV testing.

We care, but we are not set up for this. Please use our website (see below) – or ask your doctor or your local clinic these questions.

We understand the need for good information about HIV risks and HIV testing – so we developed other very detailed resources.

  1. This FAQ page answers most questions about testing: when to test, differences to test and simple questions about risk.
  2. This online booklet on HIV risk and testing has even more detailed information. It will answer any other question about HIV transmission and HIV testing.
  3. This link has information on U=U: undetectable=untransmittable. It explains why effective HIV treatment means there is ZERO risk to partners, even if you don’t use a condom.
  4. The UK guide to PrEP has information about a simple way HIV negative people can protect themselves against HIV, even if you don’t use a condom.
  5. We have a new online factsheet about PEP. If your question is about PEP, please look here first.
  6. If you don’t believe your negative test result, please this link: feelings of guilt about sex and recent encounters.

Together these resources will answer nearly EVERY question you have about risks of catching HIV and how to test. If you have a question that is not already answered we will still answer you and incorporate the answers into the FAQ page for others.

Because these answers are already online we do not answer testing questions individually. i-Base we just don’t have these resources to do this.

i-Base is an information service but not an advice service – and there is an important difference. We provide easy to understand information that is accurate and up-to-date. This is so that you can then make their own informed decisions – with your doctor. The info makes it easier to have an active role in your own health.

We are almost 40 years into the HIV epidemic, so everyone who is sexually active needs to have good information about their health. Just as we encourage HIV positive people to understand their own health, we have the same approach for HIV negative people.

The information is online. If you want the answer you have to read it.

Happy reading …

Note: this question was first answered in September 2016 but the page is often updated to keep it as a recent question.

33 comments

  1. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Zama,

    Though there has been a drop, this really isn’t something to worry about. Your CD4 is still excellent. Also, CD4s are known to fluctuate.

  2. zama

    When I started meds my CD4 was 1649. I take them on time. Now my CD4 is
    1396.

  3. Lisa Thorley
  4. Jeje

    I had unprotected sex on 30th sept. 2016, i was sick after like 3 months, fever and all i took some pills and i was back to normal, after some weeks again i was sick but i started to think i took tap water which was typoid but still i went and get HIV test after 118 days exactly i had sex and it was Negetive. Is that conclusive or do i need to get test again?

  5. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Leviathan,

    There’s no need to panic, its not possible to transmit HIV in the way that you’ve described.

  6. Leviathan

    I am not sure im supposed to send an email but I am really bothered and distraught.
    I accidentally spat water onto another person’s eye while drinking. It was just a droplet and I had a mouthsore (small one). I am not sure if there is blood or not. I am HIV + with last viral load of 43copies per ml. I am feeling guilty that I might have transmitted to him my disease. Please help…

  7. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Zama,

    Its perfectly fine for you to engage in oral sex and sexual intercourse as well. More so because its very likely that your viral load is undetectable. What this means is that the risk of transmission is close to zero, that’s when having sex without a condom.

    For more info, please see here:

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

  8. Zama

    Hi,

    I am HIV positive and have been on medication from the time I found out (22/07/2016) I have a boyfriend who is negative and we have recently been thinking about oral sex, is it safe for us to engage in oral sex?

  9. Lisa Thorley

    Hi Ntelanr,

    Only people who are positive can transmit HIV. Therefore, if you are negative you did not transmit HIV to your girlfriend.

  10. Ntelanr

    Can someone infect someone with HIV then tested negative? I went to test with my girlfriend and discovered that she was HIV positive and I tested negative.