Question

What does the number on my HIV test result mean?

15 January 2017. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission.

I had an HIV test done and result was negative and non reactive. The result showed 0.04 what does this mean? Jake

Answer

Hi Jake,

Thank you for your question.

A result that is less than 1.0 means you do not have HIV. You result of 0.04 is less than 1.0.

The number is a more accurate (quantitative) way of measuring the result other than a simple, yes or no. If the number is less than 1.0 the result is negative,

if the result is above 1.0 the result is positive,

if the result is very close to 1.0, either higher or lower, then the doctor may decide a confirmatory test is required.

Any time you don’t understand a test result it is important to ask the test centre or doctor who performed the test.

The answer was updated in January 2017 from a post in November 2010. i-Base no longer answers questions about HIV testing and transmission. Please see: Questions 1 and 8 at this link for more information.

91 comments

Roy Trevelion • 30 June 2016

Hi Mo,

I think you must have had an ELISA test. Sometimes people are given a result like, OD: 0.219.

In general if the number is above 1.0 it’s positive, and if it’s below 1.0 it’s negative. This usually has to be confirmed by another test.

So 0.1 is considered HIV negative.

You can find out more about this here:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing/appendix-3-how-hiv-tests-work
Mo • 30 June 2016

I had hiv test and result was negative 0.1 and after a month result was just NEGATIVE wats that means
Roy Trevelion • 3 June 2016

Hi,

Here’s the link to the i-Base info guide to testing
Titi • 3 June 2016

I ran a test but am testing negative but my semi quantitative show 0.06 am I at risk
Simon Collins • 27 May 2016

See:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing
OJ • 27 May 2016

Good evening
I did anti hiv after 30 days from my last sexual contact..
The result shows 0.55
My question is.. Is that normal in the body or it’s shows something wrong
Please help me
Roy Trevelion • 24 May 2016

This sounds like the result of an HIV antibody test. Antibodies are made by your immune system in response to a virus, such as HIV. In general if the number is less than 1.0 it’s a negative result, and if it’s more than 1.0 it’s a positive result.

Your result of 0.54 is a negative result. However, you can ask your doctor for another test to confirm the result. It’s important to ask your doctor about this test, and find out more about what the test result means.

You can find out more about how HIV tests work here:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing/appendix-3-how-hiv-tests-work
SUNEEL • 24 May 2016

I’ve done an HIV test, my index value is 0.54. I am risk or not?
Simon Collins • 28 April 2016

Hi Iqra

Please talk to the doctor or test centre where you tested to explain this.

If the result is positive they need to explain this to you.

If you are HIv positive, then HIV treamtent is very good and effective.
Iqra • 28 April 2016

Sir,
My HIV test value is 1.08 is it Positive? If yes please guide me for medication? Can we recover it?