Question

Does a non-reactive test after 6 months mean I am HIV negative?

i had sexual exposure in august 2007. i went for antibody test at the end of three month and the result was non-reactive.

i went for antibody test at the end of six month and the result was non-reactive again.

After the incident in august2007 i have not involved myself in any risky behaviour .
is this result reliable enough to consider myself hiv negative. do i need further testing?

Answer

Non-reactive 6 months after exposure means that you are HIV negative.

You do not need another test.

Ple\se see this link for more info:
https://i-base.info/qa/11844

176 comments

  1. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Gilbert, what was the type of test you used and how long after exposure did you test?

    More information about testing and transmission can be found here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  2. Gilbert

    I have tested negative for about 3 times,, does I have hiv

  3. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Mikey, you do not have HIV. There is no need to continue testing to confirm your result. You are HIV negative.

    Please see here for more information about testing and transmission: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  4. Mikey

    Hi Dr. Josh

    i want to ask you a question about hiv testing. I was in contact in my nose through blood from an infected patient who has been on therapy for about 1 year and has an undetectable amount of the virus on a PCR test. I was tested on day 11 with PCR <76 copies negative. 21,32,45,62,81,95 days with Ag/Ab +p24 4th test all negative. on day 107, I was tested with an ELISA test 4th on hiv department, which was also negative. a few days ago I did a new test on day 145 with a semi-quantitative ag/ab test and the test was non-reactive with a result of 0.17. All tests is from vein serum .I am terrified I experience huge stresses before every test. should I continue to get tested yet, I have lymph nodes on my neck.q and supraclavicular one on the left side. I have white tongue I don't feel well, I don't know if it's for a psychological reason. I can not sleep. my thoughts are only in Hiv. Your opinion will help me a lot. I can no longer live normally, my life has been disrupted Pls help me and answer to me my anexy it will kill me.

  5. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Kunch, intertrigo is not a sign of HIV. Your tests are conclusive and you do not have HIV.

    For more information about testing and transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  6. Kunch

    Is intertrigo a sign of HIV?
    Suffering since 4 years (had contact just before)
    All tests are negative
    After 3years.

  7. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Kelly, no you do not need to test again. Your test result is conclusive and you do not have HIV.

    For more information about testing and transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  8. Kelly

    Hi,

    I had sex with a total stranger last September 2022. After a year, November 20, 2023, a rash appeared in my penile area so i decided to take HIV test and it came out negative. But the health center personnel advice me to get another HIV test after 4 weeks so i took another test last January 2, 2024 using Abbott Bioline HIV 1/2 kit and the result was also negative. Do i need to get tested again?

  9. Josh Peasegood

    Hi Mikael, your HIV tests are conclusive. You do not have HIV and require no further tests.

    For more information about HIV testing please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing

  10. Mikael

    Hi. I had sex intercourse six months ago and I tested with auto TEST HIV after three months following my exposure. The result was non reactive. Recently, in my sixth month I was tested in a laboratory and the result still negative but I also still doubting. Can I believe my last result or continue further test?