If I test HIV negative, does that mean that my sex partner is HIV negative also?

No. Your HIV test result reveals only your HIV status. Your negative test result does not indicate whether or not your partner has HIV. HIV is not necessarily transmitted every time you have sex. Therefore, your taking an HIV test should not be seen as a method to find out if your partner is infected. Ask your partner if he or she has been tested for HIV and what risk behaviors he or she has engaged in, both currently and in the past. Think about getting tested together.

Reduce Your Risk

It is important to take steps to reduce your risk of getting HIV. Not having (abstaining from) sex is the most effective way to avoid HIV. If you choose to be sexually active, having sex with one person, who only has sex with you and who is uninfected, is also effective. 

If you are not sure that both you and your partner are HIV negative, use a latex condom to help protect both you and your partner from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Studies have shown that latex condoms are very effective, though not 100%, in preventing HIV transmission with used correctly and consistently. If either partner is allergic to latex, plastic (polyurethane) condoms for either the male or female can be used.

Show All Answers

1. What is HIV?
2. How is HIV passed from person to person?
3. What is AIDS?
4. What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?
5. Do condoms provide 100% protection from HIV?
6. Should I get tested?
7. How do HIV tests work?
8. What are the different HIV screening tests available in the United States?
9. How long after a possible exposure should I wait to get tested for HIV?
10. If I test HIV negative, does that mean that my sex partner is HIV negative also?
11. Why should I be tested for HIV?