Question
Can someone be HIV negative but an HIV “carrier”?
26 March 2010. Related: All topics.
Answer
No, people are either HIV positive or HIV negative. There is no such thing as a carrier – and the word is not relevant to HIV.
You cannot tell if anyone is HIV positive. The way to know if someone is HIV positive is if they tell you about their status and they have had conclusive evidence from an HIV test.
For more information on testing and transmission please follow this link to the i-Base factsheet.
Hi Dru,
As Charlotte says above, No, people are either HIV positive or HIV negative. There is no such thing as a carrier – and the word is not relevant to HIV.
I have a friend that recently got a call from her Ex bf. He told her that he was HIV positive and she needed to go get checked! Well shes been telling everyone that she did go and the doctors are telling her shes not a carrier for HIV. Is that possible?
Hi Un known,
It’s good that you tested HIV negative. But please talk to your doctor about all your symptoms. You can ask for other tests. You can also ask for a repeat HIV test.
Hi…i have all HIV symptoms one year now..i have extreme fatigue…diarhea…unable to breath…loss of energy…forgetfulness..insomnia…very tired in early morning…flue… rapid weightloss…white tongue…difficult to get up from bed..tested negative but my symptoms persist.what should i do
Hi Ayanda,
For nearly everyone, the HIV tests will still be HIV positive. So if you tested HIV positive 2 years ago you’re likely to still test positive.
For more info please see this Q&A.
Can a person test still test negative after 2 years even after they have been exposed to HIV?
Hi Mike,
The simple answer to your question is no. A person is either negative, or they are positive. If your tests have all come back negative, then it means you’re negative. If your partner is positive, this means she contracted the virus from someone else.
My partner she is hiv posetive and we stop sleep together after find she was hiv posetive me l tested negetive it’s almost 3 years test every month and lm negetive is it possible that l can be a carrier for 3 years tested negetive always while lm posetive
Hi Ziyanda,
Please see Q 5 here: http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions Now that you’re partner is aware of his status, until his HIV is under control you’re going to need to use condoms.
Hi it’s ziyanda I have been with my boyfriend for 1 year he just tested HIV positive and I tested HIV negative how is that possible because we never used protection from day 1