Question
How can my partner test HIV positive and I test HIV negative?
16 January 2018. Related: All topics, HIV testing, HIV transmission, Newly diagnosed, Sero different couples.
I went to test HIV with my partner.
I found out that she is positive and I was negative. After six months i went back I tested negative.
Please help as I don’t understand.
Answer
Thanks for your question as your situation is very common.
Has your partner’s positive HIV test been checked by a second test in a lab. All rapid tests, need a positive result to be confirmed. This is because of the small chance of a false-positive result.
If the second test (called “western blot”) is positive then your partner is definitely positive. In this case, how is your partner doing and does she have support?
Even if your partner is HIV positive, it is common for one person in a couple to test positive and the other negative. This can happen even if they have bot been using condoms. This is mostly just luck. Over time, most people will catch HIV if they continue to have sex without a condom.
Even though you have not caught HIV so far, you can still catch HIV in the future. Genetics may explain some cases of protection, but most are just down to luck and chance.
Now you know your partners HIV status, you can still stay together and have sex safely. Condoms or PrEP are both really effective at stopping HIV and not sharing needles.
Also, after your partner gets an undetectable viral load on treatment, the risk drops to zero – even without condoms. The PARTNER study reported no transmission with an undetectable viral load. this was after about 900 couple had sex 58,000 without condoms (over several years).
Note: This answer was updated in January 2018 and October 2014 from a question from June 2011. i-Base no longer answers individual questions about HIV transmission and risk. (See: Question 1, 5, 6 and 9 at this link).
hi doctor i had been dating with this person for 3 months and we had unprotected sex 3 times then i observed an sti symptoms then i got tested and the results came negative and she tested positive could i be also positive?
I’m sorry but i-Base no longer answers individual questions about risks of HIV transmission or HIV testing.
This service is based on information relating to treatment of people who are HIV positive.
Information online
Most testing questions are already answered on the FAQ page:
http://i-base.info/qa/faq/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Our guide to HIV Testing and risks of sexual transmission guide has more detailed and easy to read information about these topics. It can be read online at this link:
http://i-base.info/guides/testing
I got an unprotected sex in somewhere 28 april and after wards i often get sick, i have itching without rashes all over and i get diarrhea and stomachach sometimes.
I tested negative on the 2nd of may but am still worried bcos i still havent been myslf since..what should i do?
Hello Tracey,
I’m sorry to hear about your boyfriend’s recent diagnosis. It’s very understandable that you are worried about your baby. But it’s important that you have tested negative. It’s about 95% certain that you are HIV negative. The follow up test in three months will be checking in case you have been infected in the last couple of months. So it’s most likely that you are negative.
But there is still a very small risk and it’s good to be aware of this. Between now and your confirmation test there are two things you can do to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to your baby.
Firstly you can have a viral load test done. This is a test used to measure how much of the HIV virus is in the body. If you are in the early stages of infection this test should pick up any virus in your body. Usually this is only done for people who have tested positive but because of your situation you may be able to access this test.
The second option is to stop breastfeeding, until you have your confirmation test in three months time.
If you have any further questions please let us know. Best of luck!
My boyfriend just tested positive and I negative but still have 2 go back in 3 months I’m terrified cause we have a 10 month old and i breastfeed her I’m afraid of giving it 2 her what should i do?
Hi Cando, this is a very common question. Please see this previous similar question: How can my partner test HIV positive and I test HIV negative?
For more information please also see our testing and transmission guide.
Hy. My girl friend jst tested positive, and I used rapid test which came out negetive, but we had unprotected sex for about a year. We used the same tooth brash, we had sex during her menstrual periods, it is really shocking me to test negetive. Please explain to me. Is it still slow in my blood?
Dear Tiffany
I am sorry that your husband tested HIV positive recently. Is he in contact with support groups for people living with HIV. Many find it helpful to share experiences of coping with a new diagnosis.
Previously people who were HIV positive were labelled as ‘carriers’ of the disease. However, this is a very stigmatising phrase and we tend not to use it to describe people living with HIV today.
People living with HIV are HIV positive. People who do not have HIV are HIV negative. Someone who is HIV negative cannot pass on HIV.
It is possible that you are HIV negative even though you had unprotected sex with your husband. A lot of other people have been in the same situation.
You have just been very lucky. The risk of catching HIV relates to many things, including your partners viral load (ie how infections he or she is).
For more detailed information on couples in your situation, please follow this link to our guide on HIV testing and risks of transmission.
http://i-base.info/guides/testing/how-can-my-partner-test-positive-and-i-test-negative
My husband recently tested hiv positive, it appears as if he may have been infected over a year ago due to his symptoms, however I have tested negative although we had unprotected sex always. after descovering his condition we are only using protection during sex. Is it possible to be a carrier of HIV, testing negative and yet being able to transfer it to other people? I’m feeling terrible about the situation because I had a relationship in my marriage and I didn’t use protection, could I have infected him even if I test negative? or he may be infected by someone? Please help, I desperatley need answers.
Hi Pamzet,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. I can understand that you are stressed about your baby being positive. It’s unlikely that your baby will be positive, although if you were infected in the last few weeks of pregnancy, or while you were breastfeeding, this is possible. If you were infected after you stopped breastfeeding then your baby will not be positive.
It is a good idea to get him tested if you are worried. If he is positive you will be able to access the care and support you both need. And if he is negative you will be able to stop worrying about this.
You might find talking to other positive people a good way to deal with this stress. Do you have any support? If you let me know where you live I can try to suggest a support organisation in your area.