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.
I had sex with a foreigner 6 years ago and my new relationship is positive for HIV but when we had our yearly medical i am always negative then how come he is positive and his last relationship was four years ago. So when he had his first medical as company requirement there is not detection of HIV but on second which is barely only four months after he is positive and the nurses said the disease may came from me. WE had our first intercourse was February 2016 and he had his first medical May 2016 which is no detection and he made another test August 2016 then it is positive. Is it really possible that i have the virus in me yet it isn’t detected but it was transferred to my partner??and test made only 1 day is could it be possible??
Hi, we are not doctors but we do give HIV treatment information for people who are HIV positive. But Ampiclox is an antibiotic and it’s used to treat bacterial infections so it doesn’t have an effect on viruses.
For much more information about transmission and testing please see the information here:
http://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Doctor I’m a male, who is HIV negatively free, but had unprotected sex with my girlfriend who is HIV positive, but I did not cum inside her, is there any chance of me catching the virus? Please educate, me I’m ready to learn. I’ve not gone for check up yet.
Secondly, can I be free from the virus if after the unprotected sex I had with my girlfriend, if I took some Ampiclux, had a very hot bath, drank some moko Iodine, will it help to disinfect any virus if mistakenly caught?
pls see the infor here:
http://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
I slept with someone who is hiv positive without condom am scared cant wait to test how long does it take to get into your body how long must I wait before I go get tested because I dont think is already showing itself
Hi. I’ve just delivered about a month ago. My husband was tested as positive after he was diagnosed with TB when I was over 3 mnths pregnant but I am negative. The most recent test came out as negative too after the 6 month window period. Two specialists told me that it is safe for me to breastfeed but I am quite paranoid. Will I put my bby at risk?
Please read the original answer to this question for the answer.
Am in the relationship with a married man we are just four years together but now me and him we started taking our ARV last year in december the 20th, to my suprise is the wife is still negative until now but they don’t use any protection, so now i just to know how can one be positive and ther one is negative?? Or does it’s that the man was positive before or it’s the women who is positive but her blood is just too strong to tested positive?
Sorry, but we no longer answer questions about transmission and testing. This information service is for people who are HIV positive and about HIV treatment.
Most questions about transmission and testing have been answered here:
http://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
My partner is positive and I’m negative we had unprotected sex but he ejaculated out side, is any possibility that I will test positive.