HIV/Aids centre

HIV-negative result and the window period

One would think that HIV tests would be fairly cut and dry; either one is HIV-negative or HIV-positive. However, a negative HIV test may not be all that it appears to be.

When HIV first gets into your body, your immune system recognises it as harmful and makes special disease fighting cells called antibodies. Your body takes between 6 and 12 weeks to make these antibodies. The HIV test looks for these special cells to determine if you are infected with HIV. If you have an HIV test after you have been infected but before your body has made these fighting cells, the test will be HIV-negative, even though HIV is in your body.

This period is known as the "window period". It is important to remember that if you have HIV in your body, even if you have tested HIV-negative, you can still pass the virus on to someone else when you have unprotected sex.

If you were tested before three months have passed since your last risk, then there is a chance your test results might not be accurate. So get tested again a few weeks later to make sure. If it's been over three months since the risk and your test was negative, you should be in the clear. HIV will usually show up 90% of the time after 30 days, and if you have tested negative six months after your last possible exposure, you do not have HIV.

However, a negative test does not mean that you are immune to HIV, or that you can't be infected in the future. It also does not indicate whether or not your partner has HIV; HIV is not necessarily transmitted every time you have sex.

Contact the LifeAssist call centre on the EWP number and talk to your counsellor honestly about when you have been at risk, and when you might need to get tested again.

The most important thing to do if you test negative is to stay negative. Use condoms each time you have sex – no exceptions. If you use needles, don't share them. Have only one sex partner. Get tested regularly. Talk to your partner about HIV and don't be afraid to ask that he or she get tested with you. You want to make sure that your partner knows you're watching out for his or her health too.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EWP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about HIV and Aids. Call us on the EWP number or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .