Well, maybe and maybe not.

Here's the deal. An HIV test will tell you what your HIV status was "a while back". It tests for your body fighting an HIV infection. That's why it's called the HIV antibody test. If someone is recently infected (more on this below), the test can come back negative even though they are HIV+.

Think of it this way. You're exposed to a cold or flu virus. It takes 2 to 3 days (or more) from the time you're exposed (infected) until the time your body starts fighting the infection. The fever, runny nose, and coughing is caused by your body fighting the infection.

In the same way, it takes a while for someone infected with HIV to start fighting the infection and test positive on the HIV antibody test. Most people will test positive within 2 to 8 weeks after infection. Some people can take three months.

So, what the negative HIV test is telling you is that 2 to 8 weeks ago (or maybe 3 months ago), you were HIV-. If you've been "busy" in the last few weeks (or months), the test can't tell you if there's a problem.

Another question you want to ask is how long ago did they take the test? We know one guy who tested negative 5 years ago ... and never got tested again. When asked, he truthfully says that he tested HIV-.

Here's an example...

To meet demand, a lot of porn is filmed without condoms. To protect the actors, HIV tests are performed every 2 months.

In one case, all three actors tested negative just before filming. A few days later, one of the actors tested positive. And few weeks later, the other two actors tested positive.

It turns out the first actor had been exposed and infected a few weeks earlier. But his body had not yet started fighting the infection or creating antibodies. So even though his last HIV antibody test was negative, he was already HIV+.

So what do you do?

If you are going with someone special, be monogamous and "good". Wait a few months before taking the your HIV tests, and take them together. And always be honest if you end up "playing" on the side.

If the encounter is casual, just assume he might be HIV+ and play accordingly.