My finacee has been hiv+ since 1994. Recently he has been tested 3 times and is now saying that the virus is gone. It is no longer detectable. Is this medically possible. Has been very sick in the past and lost considerable weight. Has now gained back weight. He does not take his medication , and has only taken it briefly in the past, not religiously. What is the medical explanation for this, or is it a lie?

Well, as far as we know, if someone truly had HIV infection at some point documented by an antibody test, then they will always have it. And then the question is to understand what is meant by our different test results from that point forward.

It may be that what is confusing is the use of the term "not detectable". There are some lucky few who are positive for HIV infection, but whose immune system is able to control this virus to a tremendous degree. And then in later years when we do a test to measure the amount of virus in the blood - it might be so low as to be called "undetectable". However - this is an unfortunate choice of words - given that it can lead to this confusion. Since, if we use more precise testing methods, then HIV is indeed still detectable. It is just present at such a low level that our usual tests cannot readily measure it. The better way to describe this is below detectable limits, but the easier albeit misleading term of undetectable became popular.

Now, I don't know if this is what explains his circumstance - but there certainly are others who are not on meds and whose HIV is present at such low levels that we might not measure it on our viral load tests. However - if he repeats an antibody test for HIV - the more typical test used to see if someone has HIV infection at all - this test would ordinarily still be positive.

Sounds like you and he need a visit with whoever is doing these tests to better explain what they mean - and what they don't mean.

CC