Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.I have a friend who tested negative for HIV in May-June 2005(not quite sure of the exact date). He was involved with a young lady who also tested negative at the same time. Prior to this relationship he was not active for 6 months and she for 4 months. He had a HIV test done today April 2006 and the result is indeterminate (neither positive or negative) he was told to come back in two weeks. What are his chances of having a negative result?
Mark H. Katz, M.D.
Regional HIV/AIDS Physician Coordinator
Kaiser Permanente of Southern California
It sounds from the history as if there is a good chance, by history, that your friend is negative. Indeterminate tests can be caused by a number of things, although a new, just beginning to seroconvert, infection is about the most likely (in a man). Thus, if your friend has not had any other potential high- risk activities or contacts, he likely will not be positive. But if he was in any way at risk for an HIV exposure, then the concern about an eventual positive is valid.
Unfortunately, I do not know of any statistics of what percentage of indeterminates wind up being positive or negative.
Good luck to him, and to you!
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