Who And What Are You To Believe About HIV?

"I have had three partners die as a result of the HIV virus since the mid 80’s and I am still negative.  I was the bottom in all three relationships and did not use protection. I lived in a rural town in Idaho that didn’t have much knowledge of stuff back then.

I moved to LA with one of my partners and finally got him on AZT. The doctor wanted me on it even though I tested negative as he thought it was a false negative?  So I was on it a year but made me so ill I stopped it.  Even though I still test negative I have different conditions that are usually related to it, like Pneumocystis pneumonia, thrush and other. 

My question is what I am to think about if I am really negative or positive?  I was told about ten years ago in a clinic in Seattle that I can not be infected since I did not get it with all I have done, but to use protection anyway. Who and what am I to believe and what do I tell my partners?"

Response from Dr. Iain MacLeod
There are two ways in which a physician can test for HIV: one involves looking for HIV directly and the other determines if your body's immune system has been exposed to the virus.

The most common test to date has been to establish whether your body has produced antibodies to HIV. This is a good marker for determining whether you have an HIV infection. A more sensitive test can detect the amount of HIV in your blood. There have been very rare examples of people who are HIV-positive but show up negative with the common antibody test. Their HIV-positive status is determined by using the more sensitive test.

You don't mention if your physician told you which types of test you had received. I think it would worthwhile asking for the sensitive test, known as an RT-PCR. If that was to come back as negative, then it would suggest that you are HIV-negative.

And as for what you should tell your partners? Ask them to wear a condom. If you're the bottom in relationship then you are at greater risk than they are of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases.

(Photo: Getty Images)

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Dr. Iain MacLeod is a 27-year-old Brit who has been living in Boston for the last two years. He holds a doctorate in pathology from the University of Cambridge as well as a degree in virology and medical genetics from the University of Glasgow, UK. He is a research and teaching fellow at Harvard where he specializes in HIV, looking at drug resistance and transmission. Born in Scotland, Iain has spent time working on HIV in Africa."

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical advice. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.

Comments

[AJ Ross]

Thair was a article on a group of people that stayed HIV neg even after being with HIV pos people. It found that thay all had a gene that was a mutation from thair ancestors that survived the plague.