Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 1/6/2009

Question
Hello,
I was involved with someone form october to december. I found out that he had been with someone who has tested HIV positive with high levels. He said they only had intercourse 3 times but there was no protection used. I went and got tested at 2 months out from our first contact, it was negative i go back the end of this month for another test. I will be out of my 3 month window. I have since started back dating the man i was seeing before him. I told him the situation and he is patiently waiting. If the next test comes back negative, would it be safe to have intercourse with him? I mean could there still be a chance I could give him something?

Answer
Is this partner the same partner who had unprotected sex with someone positive? If so, he definitely needs to get tested.

If it is someone new, I would recommend using latex condoms everytime you have sex regardless because it is the best way to protect yourself and your partner.

The vast majority of people will test positive (if they have HIV) within 3 months of infection. A small minority of people can take as long as 6 months to seroconvert. There is no way to know who falls in that category so my advice to you is to get tested again at 6 months and to use condoms between now and then. Continue using condoms until you are in a committed, monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested.