What Does This Negative OraQuick In-Home HIV Test Result Indicate?

Posted on Mon, 7 Sep 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 7 Sep 2015 Answered on

Thu, 8 Oct 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi i am a heterosexual middle-class female who had un protected sex over 2 years ago (once or twice) can't exactly remember with a man of an un know HIV status who is also a white middle-class heterosexual. I have always had severe anxiety and even more heightened anxiety after that experience just due to the nature of my personality. I am currently in an almost 2 year long monogamous relationship with my current boyfriend and regret the decision I made more and more everyday. My current boyfriend and I have had un protected sex multiple times both on and off my period and he has tested negative for HIV. I have also taken the oraquick advance in home test and in about 10 minutes it showed up as a deffinitve negative line (next to the "c") and i quickly threw the exam away as I was to anxious to look any further. I have also had multiple general lab works done and haven't had any additional issues since the encounter. I guess i just want to know if my anxiety is validated or if I have taken all the proper steps to clear myself. Not to add that partner I had the one night stand with strongly denies he had anything wrong with him. I think it is all in my head but some conclusive insight to my boyfriends negative test and the oraquick test i took that had a definitive result after 7-10 minutes if that is enough.

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (49 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
These tests are accurate, but you may have assessed to quickly.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

The Oraquick home HIV test is nearly as accurate as the blood antibody test, but it should be read between 20 and 40 minutes, not 10. If there is a preliminary positive reading, there is a line next to the C and the T.

So while your history sounds like you are low risk, and most likely your test was accurate, if you want to be over 99% certain, go have the blood antibody test done. Then you will be able to relax and know for sure.

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (7 minutes later)

Does my boyfriends western blot exam negative test after us having un protected sex multiple times leave any indication on my status?

Also is it correct that once the "c" line shows up that the test in conclusive either positive or negative. Since the saliva travels upwards would it detect the antibodies at the "t" line before the "c" line showed up?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
My responses are below:

Detailed Answer:
Your boyfriend's negative Western Blot does indicate that it is highly likely that you are also negative, but it is not absolutely an accurate test. It is still possible that you could have HIV antibodies but that he has not been infected by you. So it is not an accurate test but does make it less likely that you are infected.

Regarding the C and T showing up at the same time, this would make sense, but it is still possible for the T to show up between 20 and 40 minutes, even if the C shows up first.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (11 minutes later)

My final question would be that I get the instructions say that at 20 minutes the results would be conclusive but if i was testing well over a year after my potential exposure wouldn't the test in theory come back more quickly assuming if there were any antibodies that it would be detected well before the 20 minutes. I guess my confusion lies that there was a mark decisively next to the C for a good 2-3 minutes with no additional changes I just don't see why it would have changed had I kept waiting.

Thank you again for your help in answering my questions, as I have had severe anxiety regarding this matter for quite some time.

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
I would recommend having a blood HIV antibody test.

Detailed Answer:
If you are having severe anxiety, if it were me, I think I would be most satisfied and relieved by going and getting the serum antibody test and then be able to close that book definitively.

Yes, it would seem that having the C show up with nothing else showing up for several minutes would be a definitive answer, but we have to rely on the company that makes the test's guidelines, and they say it is not reliable until 20 - 40 minutes. So we can guess, but we don't know.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (6 days later)

I have set up my appointment for September 22nd. I am still just trying to assess my risk. If my current boyfriend and I had un protected sex on m period which blood was swapped multiple times and his western blot was negative am I just stressing over something that is irrelevant. His doctor told him if that was the case that we had those encounters and he tested negative for everything then so am I ...

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your risks are very low.

Detailed Answer:
Given your history, and your boyfriend's negative Western Blot, your risks are very low. The reason I advised getting the test done is so that you will not have any doubt in your mind and can put it out of your mind.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 days later)

I have one more quick follow-up question. I has lab work done about 6 months ago cbc with differential and all other lab panels which came back all normal - would this help indicate anythig?

I have also not had any fungus/yeast issues ever in my life. The only feminine issue I have ever had was getting chlamydia one which was a college thing

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (55 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Definitely shows you do not have hiv/253657?iL=true" >AIDS.

Detailed Answer:
A normal CBC with differential definitely shows you do not have AIDS.

With your and your boyfriend's history and tests, I really doubt you have HIV.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (19 hours later)

Ok so then do you think it is absolutley necessary for me to go and get a blood test done after all of this - or based on my history and my boyfriends negative result after multiple un protected sexual encounters both on and off my period should I be ok?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
One partner can test negative while the other can test positive.

Detailed Answer:
No, I don't think it is absolutely necessary for you to get a blood test. I think you are low risk.

But I want to be clear that while your boyfriend's negative test continues to make you low risk and safe, it does not serve as a test result for you. Partners can test where one is positive and one negative even though they have been having unprotected sex. Not everyone gets HIV from a positive partner.

You will not get HIV from your boyfriend as he is clean.

You most likely do not have HIV.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar