A negative HIV test is a beautiful thing. That’s why two recent studies from Africa have gotten attention. The studies found new techniques for preventing the spread of HIV – leading, of course, to more negative HIV tests.
Here’s a closer look.
- HIV treatment: In one study, 1,200 sexually active men and women took a daily dose of either a drug used to treat HIV or a placebo. Those who took the HIV pill lowered their risk of having a positive HIV test by 62%.
- Combination treatment: The other study followed 5,000 couples in which only one partner had HIV. Some of the uninfected partners took HIV treatment daily, some took a two-pill combination, and the rest took a placebo. The double-treatment lowered positive HIV testing by 73%, and the single HIV pill by 62%, compared to the placebo.
More Negative HIV Tests on the Horizon?
The studies are promising. But not everyone who needs an HIV test or another STD checkup will be able to afford daily HIV treatment. And because the findings are still new, they’re not likely to be applied to the general public in the immediate future.
Still, if you’re in a relationship with an HIV-positive person or in a higher-risk group for getting a positive HIV test (i.e. if you use injected drugs or have unprotected sex), it’s important to test for HIV frequently.
