Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does My HIV Test Report Indicate?
Question: I just received my HIV test results and not sure how to read them. see attached and please advise.
Brief Answer:
negative test
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
Your test is negative. With the 4th generation tests they are 95% accurate and reliable if they are done 4 weeks after possible exposure. They are more than 99% accurate and reliable if they are done 3 months after exposure. So if it has been more than three months since your possible exposure you can be assured that you are HIV negative. If it has not been that long then you need to get a repeat done at 3 months to make sure that it is still negative.
Because this is an antibody test, it takes the body a while to respond and make antibodies after an exposure. That is why the test is not always positive right after an exposure even if you have been infected.
Good news that it is negative, just get it repeated if needed.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
negative test
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
Your test is negative. With the 4th generation tests they are 95% accurate and reliable if they are done 4 weeks after possible exposure. They are more than 99% accurate and reliable if they are done 3 months after exposure. So if it has been more than three months since your possible exposure you can be assured that you are HIV negative. If it has not been that long then you need to get a repeat done at 3 months to make sure that it is still negative.
Because this is an antibody test, it takes the body a while to respond and make antibodies after an exposure. That is why the test is not always positive right after an exposure even if you have been infected.
Good news that it is negative, just get it repeated if needed.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
if someone believes they were exposed and already showing symptoms, would it show as positive since symptoms were present? it's been about 2 weeks.
Brief Answer:
not necessarily but........
Detailed Answer:
The incubation period for HIV is usually a couple months. This means that the time between infection and showing symptoms is months away from the exposure. If you think you had an exposure two weeks ago and have symptoms now then the symptoms are likely due to something other than HIV.
In rare cases <5% you could show symptoms at 2 months and still be antibody negative (so negative test). That is why we recommend getting retested at 3 months to make sure.
You likely have a cold or some other type of infection, not HIV, if you have symptoms two weeks after a possible exposure.
Dr. Robinson
not necessarily but........
Detailed Answer:
The incubation period for HIV is usually a couple months. This means that the time between infection and showing symptoms is months away from the exposure. If you think you had an exposure two weeks ago and have symptoms now then the symptoms are likely due to something other than HIV.
In rare cases <5% you could show symptoms at 2 months and still be antibody negative (so negative test). That is why we recommend getting retested at 3 months to make sure.
You likely have a cold or some other type of infection, not HIV, if you have symptoms two weeks after a possible exposure.
Dr. Robinson
Note: Get personalized answers to your HIV related queries You can choose to talk face to face with your doctor. Book a Video Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
