What to know about HIV false-positives

A false-positive HIV test occurs when a test incorrectly indicates that a person has contracted the virus.
Receiving a false positive can cause conflicting feelings. People may wonder what they can or should do
next.

In this video, we suggest some next steps for people who have had false-positive HIV test results. We
also provide detailed information about the HIV testing process.

A person knows that they had a false positive when an initial test indicated they had HIV, but a follow-up
test was negative.

A false positive typically results from the test incorrectly identifying non-HIV antibodies as HIV
antibodies.

What to do after a false-positive result

After receiving the initial result, the healthcare professional will perform an additional test to ensure
that the result is accurate.

If the second result is also positive, it confirms the presence of HIV. In this case, a healthcare
professional will provide support and information about treatment options. If the follow-up test is
negative, it means that the first test was incorrect.

Below are some tips that can help a person deal with a false-positive result.

Seek support

When a person learns that they may have a chronic condition, it can be stressful or overwhelming —
even while waiting to receive the results of the second test. If the second test returns a negative result,
a person may experience conflicting emotions. It can be helpful to seek support during this time from
family, friends, or a partner.

Some people may wish to discuss their emotions with a mental health professional, such as a therapist.

Find the reason for the result

It is important to discuss the cause of a false-positive result with a healthcare professional. Some false
positives stem from technical mix-ups, incorrect labeling, or a person misreading the result.

There can also be medical mechanisms behind false positives. For example, a false-positive reading may
indicate that a person has an autoimmune disorder or another underlying medical condition. In this
case, it may be a good idea to investigate further.

Consider repeating the test in a few months

If a person receives a negative follow-up result but thinks that they may have been exposed to the virus
in recent weeks, it is important to take another test in 1–3 months. This is because it takes several
weeks for HIV antibodies to reach detectable levels in the bloodstream.

If they receive a negative follow-up result after taking a rapid self-test but think they were recently
exposed to the virus, they may wish to consult a healthcare professional.

Healthcare professionals call the time in which levels of antibodies are undetectable the “window
periodTrusted Source.” HIV test results are often negative during this period, even if the person has
contracted the virus.

Take steps to prevent HIV

Everyone should take precautions to avoid contracting or transmitting HIV. To do this:

 Use condoms or other barrier methods during all sexual activity.

 Consider limiting the number of sexual partners.
 Refrain from using oil-based lubricants with condoms.
 Do not share needles, syringes, or cookers if using injectable drugs.
 Consider penis (penile) circumcision.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), penis (penile) circumcision may decrease men’s
odds of contracting HIV through vagina/penile sex by 60 percent.

Some people have a higher risk of contracting HIV, including those whose sexual partner or partners
have the virus. In this case, taking preexposure prophylaxisTrusted Source (PrEP) therapy can reduce the
risk of contracting it.

People who may have been exposed to HIV can take postexposure prophylaxisTrusted Source, or PEP,
medication within 72 hours. This may prevent them from contracting the virus.

Types of HIV testing

There are many ways to test for HIV, all with different windows and response times.

People who are at especially high risk for contracting the virus may take a nucleic test, which requires a
blood draw in a doctor’s office and will detect the presence of an infection within 10 to 33 days. It takes
several days to get results from a lab.

More common is the antibody/antigen test, which also uses a blood draw in a healthcare professional’s
office and can detect infection within 18 to 45 days. This will take several days to get a result, but it picks
up on the presence of the virus faster.

Rapid antibody/antigen self-tests can be performed in a healthcare professional’s office or at home with
a self-test. These use blood from a finger prick and detect infection about 18 to 90 days out. It takes
about 30 minutes to get results.
Finally, rapid antibody tests can be taken in a healthcare professional’s office using blood from a vein
and return results within days. They are more sensitive though perhaps less convenient than antibody
self-tests, which use blood from a finger or saliva and return results within 20 to 30 minutes.

Antibody tests detect HIV 23 to 90 days after exposure.

Due to the risk of inaccurate results, healthcare professionals should repeat any positive tests done in
their labs to confirm the result. They may use the original blood sample or a new one.

Inaccurate HIV test results

False-positive results are uncommon, according to the CDC.

It also estimates that the specificity, or accuracy, of testing is 99.6 percent. The other type of inaccurate
result is a false negative. It occurs when an initial result is negative, but subsequent testing indicates that
the person does have HIV.

False negatives usually occur in the early stages of the virus before detectable levels of antibodies build
up in the bloodstream.

Who should get tested for HIV?

The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13–64 get tested for HIV at least once. Those at high risk
should undergo annual testing.

Cisgender and transgender men who have sex with other men may wish to consider getting tested more
frequently, possibly every 3–6 months. If you are a cisgender or transgender woman who has a male
partner who has sex with other male partners, you may also want to consider getting tested more
frequently.

Factors that increase a person’s risk of contracting HIV include:

 Having sex without a barrier method

 Sharing needles and other drug equipment
 Having sex with a person who has HIV or is at high risk of HIV
 Having another sexually transmitted infection
 Having hepatitis or tuberculosis
 Having an uncircumcised penis

Pregnant people should undergo HIV testing so that they can receive treatment if the results are
positive. Receiving treatment during pregnancy reduces the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby.

Finally, false-positive HIV test result can cause conflicting emotions. It is important to discuss the
reasons for the inaccuracy with a healthcare professional and ask about options.
Everyone should receive HIV testing at least once. Pregnant people and those with increased odds of
contracting HIV should undergo testing more often. For people in the United States, this CDC locator can
help identify nearby HIV testing.

To prevent the virus’ transmission, use a condom during sexual activity, refrain from sharing drug-
injection equipment, and consider penis (penile) circumcision.

Can HIV live and spread outside the body?

There is no single answer for how long HIV can survive outside the body, such as in dry blood or dry
semen, as it depends on several factors. However, HIV does not survive long outside the body, and it
cannot replicate without a human host.

A person can contract HIV if damaged tissue or a mucous membrane, such as those in the rectum, penis,
vagina, or mouth, comes into contact with bodily fluids that contain the virus.

Only certain bodily fluids can carry HIV. These fluids includeTrusted Source:
1. Blood

2. Semen

3. Preseminal fluid

4. Fluids in the rectum

5. Fluids in the vagina

6. Breast milk

This video explores the factors that affect the survival time of HIV outside the body in different fluids. It
also explains how the virus can and cannot transmit.

Survival time outside the body

HIV does not typically survive for long outside the body, where it cannot replicate. The virus dies quickly
upon exposure to light and air.

Therefore, contact with dried blood or semen that has been outside the body does not generally pose a
risk for contracting HIV.

HIV cannot survive in the air, so people cannot contract the virus from sharing space with a person who
has HIV. It is also not possible to contract HIV from sharing toilet seats, utensils, or bedding.

The length of time that the virus can survive outside the body depends on several factors, such as:

1. The type and amount of bodily fluid

2. The temperature and humidity of the environment

3. The acidity of the environment

4. Whether there is exposure to sunlight

While the risk of contracting HIV from external fluids is low, the risk is highTrusted Source when sharing
equipment to inject drugs, such as needles and syringes.

The reason for this is that the person may inject blood that contains HIV directly into their bloodstream.
Modern antiretroviral therapies are very effective in preventing HIV transmission. In most cases, the
virus is under control within 6 monthsTrusted Source of a person starting this treatment.

Once the viral load — the amount of the virus present in the blood — is undetectable, there is virtually
no risk of the virus transmitting to other people through blood, semen, or other bodily fluids.

HIV in blood
In comparison with other fluids, blood contains the highest concentrations of HIV. The virus dies quickly
when it leaves the body, so the risk of contracting HIV from contact with dried blood is low.

In a medical setting, a person could contract HIV if they get a cut from a blade or needle that has been in
contact with blood that contains HIV. However, the risk of contracting HIV in this way is very low.

The risk of contracting HIV from sharing equipment to inject drugs is very high because a person could
inject blood that contains HIV directly into the bloodstream. The virus can survive for longer inside a
syringe than when it is exposed to air.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, there is a 1 in 160
chance of contracting HIV from using a needle that a person with HIV has used.

HIV in semen

Semen is the bodily fluid that contains the second highest concentration of HIV.

According to the HIV charity Avert, it is not possible for a person to get HIV by coming into contact with
a condom containing the sperm of a person with the virus. The speed at which HIV dies outside a human
host makes this impossible.

HIV in vaginal fluids

While HIV can spread via vaginal fluids, the virus tends to exist in smaller concentrations than it does in
blood and semen. It is not clear why this is the case, but it appears that hormones and the types of cells
in the genital tract may play a role.

HIV in breast milk

Breast milk contains HIV in lower concentrations than blood or semen.

A baby can contract HIV through breast milk, so the CDCTrusted Source recommend that people with
HIV do not breastfeed, regardless of antiretroviral therapy or viral load. HIV can also transmit to a baby
through pregnancy or birth. However, this is becoming less common with recent developments in care.

If a person with HIV is receiving effective antiretroviral therapy, and they give HIV medicine to the baby
for 4–6 weeks after delivery, the risk of the baby contracting HIV can be less than 1%.

How HIV can spread

The most common ways people contract HIV in the United States are through sharing equipment when
injecting drugs and having anal or vaginal sex without barrier contraceptives. Anal sex poses a higher risk
than vaginal sex, as there is a greater chance of tissue damage.

Although it is less common, HIV may pass to an infant during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding. In
extremely rare cases, HIV may spread if blood comes into contact with an open wound. There is a
chance of this occurring if partners engage in open-mouth kissing, and both have bleeding gums or open
sores within the mouth.

However, saliva that does not contain blood cannot transmit HIV. People cannot get HIV from closed-
mouth or cheek kissing.

People can reduce or eliminate the chance of contracting HIV by using barrier contraceptives or taking
preventive HIV therapy, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

PrEP is a pill that a person can take once a day to minimize the chance of contracting HIV. It may be
helpful for those who:

1. Have a partner with HIV

2. Have a partner with an unknown HIV status

3. Have multiple partners

4. Share needles to inject drugs

How HIV cannot spread

It is not possible to contract HIV from the followingTrusted Source:

1. Mosquito and tick bites

2. Sexual activities that do not involve the exchange of bodily fluids, such as mutual masturbation

3. Contact with the saliva, tears, or sweat of a person with HIV

hugging, cheek kissing, or shaking hands with someone with HIV

4. Sharing toilets or cutlery

Summary

HIV cannot survive for long outside the human body, which means that the risk of contracting HIV from
dried blood or semen is low. If a person suspects that they have come into contact with HIV in the last
72 hours, they can use an emergency prevention method called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Although inequities exist between different regions and populations, modern antiretroviral therapy has
made it possible for people with HIV to live long, healthy lives without the virus transmitting to others.
HIV and AIDS: Transmission myths and facts

Many myths exist about methods of HIV transmission. Debunking such myths can help people
understand what precautions to take and when to contact a doctor.

Innovations in testing and treatment have reduced the risk of contracting HIV and allowed people with
the condition to live long and healthy lives. It is now possible to reduce the level of HIV in the body to
the point of being undetectable in a test.

At this level, a person cannotTrusted Source transmit the virus to another person. To maintain this, the
person will need to continue taking their medication. Otherwise, viral levels can rise again. Preexposure
prophylaxis (PrEP) can also help prevent transmission.

This video examines some common misconceptions about HIV transmission.

Myth 1: HIV can spread through touch

Fact: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that HIV cannot spread through
touching. Shaking hands, hugging, high-fiving, and similar types of physical contact will not transmit the
virus.

A person can only contract HIV if they come into contact with the following fluids from a person who has
the virus:

1. Blood

2. Semen

3. Breast milk

4. Pre-ejaculate

5. Rectal fluids

6. Vaginal fluids

Note: HIV does not transmit through saliva.

These fluids must come into contact with another person’s mucous membranes — such as those in or
on their rectum, vagina, penis, or mouth — for the person to have a chance of contracting HIV.
Transmission can also occur via broken skin or sharing needles with a person with HIV.

Myth 2: Insects can transmit HIV

Fact: Insects cannot transmit HIV.

People may mistakenly believe a mosquito or another insect could potentially bite a person with HIV
and then inject the blood into another person’s body.

However, HIV would not survive in a mosquito due to the different genetic makeup compared with
human DNA. Additionally, insects do not reinject blood into a new person. This means they cannot
transmit HIV.

Other forms of the immunodeficiency virus exist, such as the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which
affects cats. However, HIV only affects humans. Humans cannot contract FIV or other immunodeficiency
viruses from animals.

Myth 3: HIV can spread via water or food

Fact: It is impossible to contract HIV through water or food.

The virus cannot live long outside the body or survive in water. As a result, a person cannot contract HIV
through swimming, drinking, bathing, or other activities involving water. Furthermore, it is not possible
to contract HIV from:
sharing food

sharing toilets or bathroom facilities

coming into contact with saliva, sweat, or tears

Myth 4: Couples with HIV do not need to protect themselves

Fact: Different strains of HIV exist, and strains can change over time. If two people in a couple have
different strains of HIV, they can transmit these to each other, potentially leading to what doctors may
call “superinfectionTrusted Source.” This can complicate treatment.

Current medications can reduce the levels of HIV in the body so that the virus is untransmittable. If this
happens for both partners, HIV protection may be unnecessary. A healthcare professional can advise
people on their individual situations.

However, even if there is no risk of transmitting HIV, other sexually transmitted infections can spread
through having sex without a condom or other barrier method.

Myth 5: Blood transfusions raise HIV risk

Fact: Healthcare professionals in the United States and many other countries rigorously test the blood
supply for various blood-related infections, including HIV.

Banked blood that is available for transfusion does not contain HIV. The virus cannot spread through
organ and tissue donations, as these also undergo testing.

When scientists were first identifying HIV, they did not know what caused the virus or how it spread. As
a result, they did not test donated blood for HIV, and some people contracted the virus this way.

Today, strict testing ensures no viruses are present in the blood supply.
Anyone who has concerns about blood or organs they are going to receive can speak to a healthcare
professional about the testing process.

It is impossible to contract HIV through donating blood, as all needles and other materials healthcare
professionals use during the process are sterile.

Blood donation

To discover more evidence-based information and resources for donating blood, visit our dedicated hub.

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Myth 6: Oral sex cannot lead to HIV

Fact: Healthcare professionals consider contracting HIV from oral sex rare but possible.

During oral sex, placing the mouth on a penis, vagina, or anus can potentially expose a person to fluids
containing the virus that could enter the mucous membranes in their mouth.

Although the likelihood of contracting HIV due to oral sex is lowTrusted Source, a person can still take
steps to reduce the risk further. Using a barrier method of protection, such as a dental damTrusted
Source or a condom, reduces the likelihood of transmitting HIV and other infections during oral sex.

People with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load through consistent antiretroviral therapy (ART)
will not transmit the virus to sexual partners.

Learn more about ART.

Myth 7: HIV can spread through kissing

Fact: People do not transmit HIV through saliva, meaning it is impossibleTrusted Source to transmit the
virus by kissing on the cheeks or the lips.

A person is also highly unlikely to contract or transmit HIV via open-mouth kissing. For this to happen,
both people would have to have large, open sores in their mouths through which blood could pass.

Myth 8: It is impossible to contract HIV from a needle

Fact: HIV can survive in a used needle for up to 42 daysTrusted Source. There is no safe way to share
needles.

A person should use a new needle for each injection. They should also ensure the artist uses a fresh
needle if getting a tattoo.

Before we conclude this video, here are some frequently asked questions and answers about HIV.

1. What are five facts about HIV?

The following are five facts about HIV:

1. HIV is a major global public health issue that has caused 40.4 million deaths to date.

2. An estimated 39 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2022.

3. A pregnant person with HIV can transmit the virus to a fetus during pregnancy or to an infant during
delivery.

4. People who have an undetectable viral load and are taking ART cannot transmit HIV to others.

5. Healthcare professionals can diagnose the virus through rapid tests that provide same-day results.

2. Can you have HIV for 20 years and not know?

Typically, most people experience flu-like symptoms within 2–4 weeks of contracting HIV.

However, once these symptoms disappear, HIV may not cause any symptoms for many years. This
means people may go for long periods without knowing they have the virus.

Summary
It is not possible to transmit AIDS, which is stage 3 HIV. However, it is possible to spread HIV to others in
some circumstances. A person can transmit the virus via blood, semen, pre-ejaculate, rectal fluids,
vaginal fluids, and breast milk.

Some common HIV myths are that people can contract the virus through touching, kissing, blood
transfusions, and mosquito bites. These beliefs are not accurate.

Many treatment options are available to help prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS. Anyone concerned
that they may have HIV or experience exposure to the virus can speak with a healthcare professional
about prevention methods and testing.

By dispelling myths about HIV and AIDS, more people can seek diagnosis and treatment early and lead
long, healthy lives.

Is there a cure for HIV?

Few viruses have been researched as intensively and for as long as HIV, and there have been significant
advances in treatment. As a result, many people with HIV now live long and healthy livesTrusted Source.
While there is no cure, there are many effective treatments.

In this video, we explore what is meant by a “cure,” how it differs from a treatment, and we look at
some possibilities and challenges.

Is there a cure?

While there are many effective treatments for HIV, scientists are still working to develop a cure.

There are effective treatments for HIV, but there is currently no cure. However, research is still ongoing.

Perhaps three people are thought to have been cured of HIV:

Timothy Ray Brown, originally known as the “Berlin patient,” who received HIV-free blood test results
beginning in 2007 the “London patient,” whose remission began in 2019, 18 months after their
antiretroviral therapy had finished the “Düsseldorf Patient,” whose remission also began in 2019, 3.5
months after their antiretroviral therapy had ended

All three had received stem cell transplants as treatments for cancer, and their stories may provide
some clues about possible cures.
After a decade of living with HIV, Timothy Ray Brown received a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. He
received chemotherapy and two stem cell transplants, which replace bone marrow cells with healthy
ones from a donor.

On the date of the first transplant, in 2007, Brown stopped taking antiretroviral medication. After 3
months, doctors found no evidence of the virus in his bloodwork.

Now, after more than 10 years without taking HIV medication, there is still no evidence of HIV in his
body.

A stem cell transplant is a risky procedure to treat cancer, and it is not scalableTrusted Source into an
HIV cure. Still, the apparent success of this procedure has inspired more research.

Types

What constitutes a cure for HIV is still a topic of research and debate. There are two main types of cure
under investigation:

1. A sterilizing cure, which would eliminate the virus from a person’s body

2. A functional cure, which would reduce the amount of the virus in the body to undetectable levels —
without using antiretroviral medicines

Sterilizing cures

The International AIDS Society have defined a sterilizing cure as “the complete eradication within an
individual of all replication-competent HIV.”

This is also known as the “infectious disease modelTrusted Source.” It means that a person has at most
one copy of HIV RNA per milliliter (ml) of blood.

HIV is a retrovirus, which means that it uses RNA as its genetic material. HIV treatments are, therefore,
called antiretroviral medications.

Viral RNA is in the genome of infected cells and is passed down when the body makes new cells.
However, the infection can remain latent in the DNA of the cells for many years without producing
infectious HIV viruses. For this reason, a sterilizing cure remains impossible.

Timothy Ray Brown is considered to have experienced this because his cells with the latent infection
were killed. His new cells from bone marrow transplantation were resistant to new HIV infection within
his body.

2. Functional cures

Someone with a functional cure would have low levels of the dormant virus in their body. They would
not need to take medication to maintain this state and would have no risk of transmitting the virus.
This type of cure is also known as the “cancer model,” as the aim is long-term remission with fewer than
50 copies of viral RNA per mlTrusted Source of blood.

Some research has found that certain people who receive antiretroviral therapy very soon after they
contract HIV can achieve long-term remission without medication. Doctors and researchers sometimes
refer to people who receive this treatment as “post-treatment controllers.” Recently, research has
explored “elite controllers” as a possible model for an HIV cure.

Elite controllers are the roughly 1%Trusted Source of HIV-positive people who can maintain very low
viral loads for years without taking antiretroviral medication. Establishing how this works is a major
focus of research, at present.

Available treatments

Currently, a main goal of HIV treatment is to reduce the viral load to an undetectable level. The viral
load is the amount of HIV in a person’s blood. Viral load tests measure the number of copies of HIV RNA
in a milliliter of blood.

If a person’s viral load stays undetectable, they effectively have no risk of transmitting HIV to a sexual
partner who is HIV-negative. Their chances of living a long and healthy life are similar to those of
someone without HIV.

People with HIV should start taking antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible, the United States
Department of Health and Human Services emphasize.

These types of medication stop the virus from replicating in the body. A person may need to take a daily
dose of three or more medicines, as different antiretroviral medications interrupt the life cycle of the
virus in different ways.

Treatments to prevent HIV transmission

There are also preventive HIV treatments, including: Postexposure prophylaxis, or PEP: A person who
may have been exposed to HIV can take this medication within 72 hours to help prevent transmission.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP: HIV-negative people who have a high risk of exposure to the virus can
take this type of medication daily.

Preventing transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding: Certain HIV medications can
protect the growing fetus, and a doctor may administer medication after birth. Having a cesarean
delivery and not breastfeeding can also help prevent HIV transmission.

Challenges
Researchers working on possible HIV cures face a range of challenges. A major barrier to developing a
cure for HIV is that the virus can lie dormant in reservoirs of T-cells and other cells throughout the body,
sometimes for decades.

The U.S. government’s timeline of HIV and AIDS highlights the advances and setbacks on the road to
possible cures, treatments, and vaccines. These include the recent development of a toolTrusted Source
to assess possible cures by counting the cells in an HIV reservoir.

Another challenge is that HIV alters the person’s immune responses, and researchers face ethical
concerns. Current HIV treatments are very effective. This means that researching a cure might involve
asking trial participants to expose themselves to additional risks, such as by stopping their medication.

A technological barrier involves the ability to detect the virus at low enough levels to know whether it
has truly been eliminated.

The history of HIV highlights the unpredictability of medical research, despite a large global effort over
several decades. It also shows many promising advances.

Summary

Our understanding of HIV has grown enormously since the virus was first identified in 1984. There are
many promising avenues of research into possible cures, and effective treatment is already available.

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