A service provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control

Close

Search

Home / Answered Questions / Insta test after 33 days negative but sore throat and cold present after 37 days could i still have hiv present?

Insta test after 33 days negative but sore throat and cold present after 37 days could i still have hiv present?

Hi, thanks for writing.

It is normal for people to be worried when they develop flu like symptoms (e.g. fever, rash, sore throat) after they have a sexual encounter they are concerned about. Many people will think the worst. I usually remind people that flu like symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions like a seasonal cold. 

The HIV Insti test you had is considered to be 90% accurate at 30 days. So while that test is not conclusive for you, it is a good sign.

HIV cannot be diagnosed by any combination of symptoms because all these symptoms can be caused by many different conditions. The only way to find out if you have HIV is by having a blood test at 6 weeks, or another Insti test at 3 months.

In the meantime check-out our Worry  & Anxiety page for helpful tips about what to do when you’re worried about an STI.

Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more information.

Health Nurse