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).

335 comments

Simon Collins • 4 October 2016

Hi Thumelo

Yes, the lab results are important. Sometimes people have a false-positive result with the first test. The lab test is essential.

Please let me know how things turn out. If you are positive, then HIV treatment is very effective for both you and the baby.
thumelo • 4 October 2016

I tested HIV positive and I am pregnant. I am stil waiting for the result at lab. is it possible for me to be negative?
Simon Collins • 3 October 2016

Hi Sudhitha, the person who gives you the test results needs to explain them.
Sudhitha • 3 October 2016

Vdrl rest nonreactive what is the sero that is 07 non reactive…. answer me plz.thank u
Simon Collins • 1 October 2016

Hi Paul, I am more concerned about your girlfriend who is now really ealing with HIV. How is she doing? Everything you need to know about risk and test are at this link.
http://i-base.info/qa/11844
paul • 1 October 2016

I had a 6 month relationship with my girl friend,only to realize that she had some long lasting nodes on her neck,on 7th Sept 2016 I advised her for HIV test of which both of us tested. she tested positive and I tested negative.But all I can remember I had tested 36 days from the last unprotected sex I had with her.
Am confused confused. I need your help please.3 months are becoming to long for me to wait for the next test .I don’t know the probability of I becoming positive, I need your help please.
Please what is the possibility of becoming positive or negative at this 36 days?
Simon Collins • 26 September 2016

Hi Zama, all positive tests need to be confirmed by a laboratory test. If this second test is positive, then you are HIV positive. Until the second test there is a chance that the first result was a test error. If it turns out that you are positive, then perhaps you became positive before your started dated your current partner. Many people can be HIV positive for years without knowing this.

It is good that you got your results in time to start HIV treatment (ART). This will be good for both your health and the baby. Many people never find out when they became positive, but moving forwards now is much better than looking back.
zama • 26 September 2016

i have tested positive and i am also pregnant my partner also tested but he was negative i haven’t cheated on him every since we started dating , can you please assist i am worried
Simon Collins • 22 September 2016

Please see this link for information about risk:
http://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Ruthmphepo • 22 September 2016

Last month i slept with aman who is married and he is not circumcised i slept with him two times without condom but am afraid that if i go for a test am i not going to get the positive results.