Question
Can a positive person test negative again?
30 March 2023. Related: All topics, HIV testing.
Can a positive person test negative again?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
No. HIV tests look for antibodies.
Antibodies are what the body makes in response to HIV.
These antibodies remain in the body and do not leave over time.
This means that an HIV test will remain positive once you have tested as such.
Josh.
Hy Doctor what does it means if i test negative while taking arv
Hi Nco, what was the name of the test you took? and what treatment are you taking?
Do you know if this was testing antibodies or viral load? When on treatment it would be common to have a viral load that is undetectable. This is not the same as being HIV negative. Instead it means that your treatment is working so well that HIV is not active in the body. It does not mean that you no longer have HIV.
To confirm your status you need a test that can look for antibodies. These are cells made by the body in response to being HIV positive. If you have HIV, you will always test positive for these antibodies even when on treatment.
More information about testing can be found here: https://i-base.info/guides/testing