Is it possible to test positve and negative for HIV ?

Question

My father was tested in prison and said that his hiv results were positive and negative and that that's all they told him.(besides that it was very likely caused by heroin needle sharing). Is this possible? If so what does it mean?
He has also been tested various times throughout his sporadic prison sentences for the past 20 years. I think he said something about getting his AIDS results next week. If this makes any sense at all, can someone give me an answer? Any answer is better than what i now know. He's been in this prison sentence for 1 year and clean for the entire year. Does that make sense medically? If this is the truth, then should my mom get tested if she slept with him a year ago?

What are his chances of getting aids and how long will it take? In other words, how long is he expected to live given his 20 year drug addiction, realistaclly speaking.

Answer 1

It is not possible to test both positive and negative for HIV at the same time.

If you test negative for HIV, however, it is still possible that you have been infected with HIV and are simply in a kind of "window" period - i.e. that you are infected, but it is too early, so to speak, for the HIV test to detect it.

Needle sharing is, obviously, a high risk behavior. It's good that your father is getting tested. Ideally, he should have several HIV tests, spaced several months apart from the time of his last exposure in order to make sure he's negative. If he truly is staying clean, then after several negative tests, he can be comfortable that he is indeed HIV free.

As for your mother, yes - she should probably be tested, just to make sure.

Good luck.

Answer 2

It is possible that a rapid test came back positive but confirmation testing came back negative. (can be from various causes) It could also be that he is positive for HIV but not aids. HIV is the virus that causes aids but he may not have full blown aids. And if at any time in there relationship did your father do heroin and share needles with some one not only should she be tested for HIV she should also be tested for Hepatitis. If he was doing IV drugs before you were born you should also be tested for HIV.

Am not trying to scare you but just trying to be honest.

Answer 3

It often happens that people get a false positive or a false negative. If a person has engaged in risky behaviour (needle sharing or unsafe sex or whatever) then they should be tested at regular intervals. Remember that HIV will not usually present positive on a test for at least 3 months and sometimes more than 6 months.

Answer 4

There is a test called the HIV PCR test. It can detect the virus and not the antibody as early as two weeks after exposure. But it's recommended that you wait 28 to 42 days. By that time, the virus should be wide-spread. It's more expensive. There are several home tests you can do to keep things private.

Answer 5

well, it's best to ask a doctor if it is possible. if not, then they may have done something wrong because as far as i know you can't test positive and negative for hiv. but it is best that your mother take a test to be on the safe side. and since your father is in prison, they may have mixed the information. but don't keep your hopes up. if he was tested and this was the result, take a test and
have your parent take the test! it's the safest way

Answer 6

It's possiably to get those kinda results . it's called a false posative, it just means he needs to get tested again for a correct result. He can't be both posative and negative , it doesn't work that way. If your mom is worried have her wait for your dads second test results to see what it says. IF it's posative then yes she'll want to be tested for sure. IF it's negative she might want to get tested anyway just as a precaution.

Answer 7

YES IT IS. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE ARE TOLD TO BE TESTED EVERY SIX MONTHS. THERE HAS TO BE ENOUGH ANTIBODIES IN THE BLOOD FOR IT TO BE DETECTED. IF THE SAMPLE WAS TAINTED BY IMPROPER HANDLING, THE RESULTS MAY BE INACCURATE.