Question
Why did my partner test positive when I tested negative?
19 April 2022. Related: All topics, HIV transmission, Sero different couples.
My partner and I have been together for six years. He tested positive three years ago.
Automatically assuming I would be infected already we continued to have unsafe sex. I never went for a test until three years later in 2012.
He was beginning his treatment and wanted me to do the same, but when I went to my local clinic I tested HIV negative.
Can I trust these results or should I worry about testing HIV positive in near future? I’m so confused!
Answer
The risk of catching HIV is low compared to many other infections.
So your situation is common to still be negative even if without condoms with someone who is HIV positive. Your negative result is also related to good luck – so it is not good to rely on this in the future.
As your partner has just started treatment, the risk of transmission will already be much lower. Then, once his viral load becomes undetectable the risk is effectively zero.
The PARTNER studies showed that ART stops sexual transmission. For example, after more than 100,000 times that an HIV positive person had sex without a condom with an HIV negative partner, there were ZERO transmissions. Viral load just needs to be undetectable on ART.
This and other studies led to the U=U campaign (undetectable = untransmittable).
https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
This guide to HIV testing and risks of sexual transmission includes more info on transmission risk. Also, the answer to Question 9 on our most asked questions page:
Can we stop using condoms if viral load is undetectable on treatment?
If your partner is not on treatment or if he still has detectable viral load, then using condoms will make sure you stay negative. Another option is to talk to your doctor about PtRP, which is where you can take a pill that will protect you against HIV. The UK guide to PrEP has more info.
Note: This answer was updated in 2016, 2018 and 2022 from a question first posted online in July 2012.
Hi. firstly, if you have safe sex then you are already not at risk from catching HIV. Condoms stop HIV as long as you use them carefully and consistently (ie with lube and every time).
Whatever combination your partner uses, his viral load is more important for reducing transmission risks than his CD4 count. If his viral load is undetectable, especially if it has been undetectable for more than six months, he will also be much dramatically less infective.
In the UK, if someone has an undetectable viral load and a condom brakes or falls off, most hospitals think the risk is so low that they would not even recommend PEP.
my partner is currently HIV positive & I am negative. We have safe sex each time and he is currently taking Stribild. The doctor confirmed that this is a good ARV combination and assured me that my risk factor is low due to my partners now undetectable viral load. When we went to the doctor about 2 months ago his CD4 count was 280 but he is perfectly healthy and rarely gets ill? should I worry about exposure?
Hi, it is good that you will continue to be with your wife for support during this time. People react differently to an HIV diagnosis, but it is never likely to be easy. It is easier of you have a partner who is supportive. Learning about HIV, and the benefits from treatment, can help provide up to date information that life can still be very good after an HIV diagnosis.
I used to test every three months but my wife never got tested till yesterday. my result was negetive and her results were positive. what can I do to show support to her.
Hello,
Yes it is possible for one partner to be positive and the other negative- as is explained above. The only way to know if you are positive or negative is to have an HIV test.
Can i be – while my 6 month pregnant women is positive?
Hi Belinda, our pregnancy guide has information about getting pregnant when your partner is HIV-. Please have a look there, and let me know if you have any questions.
im hiv + for 8 years now having two kids my cd4 is 950 i take pills every night but my partner is hiv – how can we have a open thing between us and get babies
Hi Agnes,
Do you know what your father’s CD4 count is? This is a measure of his immune system, and if I know this I can answer your question better.
It is important that your dad speaks to his doctor if he has missed a month’s worth of treatment. If he has missed this many doses it’s important that his doctor knows this before he starts again because this could cause resistance to his treatment.
Whether this treatment interruption will mean your father gets ill or not depends on how high his CD4 count was before he stopped treatment, and how long it is before he starts again. Please see this page about treatment interruptions for more information.
My dad left in october to 1 nearby country by then he had tablets and he had to go back for others on november 20th since then he has never come back again he takes tdf/3tc/efv 4 how long can he survive with out taking them?