What happens if your HIV test comes back negative?

What happens if your HIV test comes back negative?

If the test comes back negative, and you haven’t had a possible exposure during the window period for the test you took, you can be confident you don’t have HIV. If your test result is positive, the lab will conduct follow-up testing, usually on the same blood sample as the first test.

What does a positive HIV test result mean?

One would imagine that an HIV test would be fairly cut and dry, with the results either being HIV negative or HIV positive. HIV negative means you have no signs of HIV in your blood; a positive HIV test means that you do have signs of HIV in your blood. 1  You can be positive for HIV even if you don’t have symptoms.

Where can I get a negative HIV test?

For these types of tests, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta has determined that a single antigen/antibody test taken within the window period is enough to confirm an HIV negative result. No further testing is required.

How often do you get a false negative HIV test?

These in-home tests aim to detect HIV antibodies from a person’s saliva, the results of appearing within 20 to 40 minutes. But unlike similar tests are given at clinics and hospital, the in-home version will produce approximately one false negative result out of every 12 tests performed.

What is the best test for HIV testing?

The best screening test for HIV is the test that you use properly and at the right times. Most physicians and health clinics use a combination antibody/antigen ELISA screening assay. A 4th generation ELISA is pretty much gold standard. You can count on a positive reaction if you’re infected.

What causes false negative HIV tests?

The known causes of false negative test results include testing within the window period, non–clade B virus, infection with HIV type 2, end-stage AIDS, and agammaglobulinemia. To date, there have been no documented instances of patients with common variable immunodeficiency or…

Is HIV positive or negative?

HIV negative means you have no signs of HIV in your blood. HIV positive means that you do and have been infected with HIV. But there is a scenario when a negative HIV test may not be all that it appears. When testing for HIV, there is a short window period when a person can test negative and actually have the virus in his or her system.

What does non reactive mean on a HIV test?

A non-reactive HIV test means that HIV was not found in that testing sample. This test result is commonly referred to as “negative,” although a person who tests negative for HIV may nevertheless actually be HIV positive. HIV tests are used to find antibodies to the virus.