If you may have VISP: Information for former HIV vaccine study participants
If you took part in a research study for an HIV vaccine and you received an HIV vaccine, you might have vaccine-induced seropositivity (VISP). If you participated in such a study but you did not receive the vaccine (ie, you received a placebo), then you will not have VISP. If you have or might have VISP, there are some important things you should know.
If you have VISP, you will not pass the antibodies to another person by kissing or through sex.
If you are pregnant, you might pass the vaccine-induced antibodies to your baby. These antibodies from the vaccine are temporary and go away over time. They are not harmful to the baby. Newborns are commonly tested for the HIV virus and not for the antibodies, which means that VISP should not be a problem. However, you should still speak with your doctor about VISP if you think that you might have it.
People with HIV cannot donate blood or organs. If you choose to donate, the donation site will use an HIV antibody test to check for HIV. For those who have VISP, even though you have antibodies from an HIV vaccine and not acquisition of HIV, the site will not know that from the test they use. If you test positive for HIV antibodies because you received an HIV vaccine, you might not be able to donate at all.
Some visas or travel programs also require HIV testing. If you plan to travel, this link might help you find out if you need testing: travelrestrictions.unaids.org.
(Adapted from HIV Vaccine Trials Network. The right HIV test. Accessed July 22, 2024. https://www.hvtn.org/participate/visp-and-hiv-testing.html, and from BridgeHIV. What you need to know about vaccine-induced sero-positivity (VISP). Accessed July 22, 2024. https://bridgehiv.org/trialsandvials/visp/)
For former study participants who have received an HIV‑1 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson
If you were in an HIV vaccine clinical study and received an HIV vaccine, you might have VISP. If you participated in such a study but you did not receive the vaccine (ie, you received a placebo), then you will not have VISP.
Johnson & Johnson, also known as Janssen, or Janssen Vaccines & Prevention, has done research with an HIV-1 vaccine. Because the vaccine did not work well enough, Johnson & Johnson has stopped working on it, and the studies are now closed. But, because the vaccine made the body produce antibodies to HIV, many people who were in the studies will test positive on regular HIV antibody tests.
Johnson & Johnson will help with long-term HIV testing for people who now have VISP after taking part in their HIV‑1 vaccine studies.
Access a list of relevant Johnson & Johnson studies:
Testing andnext steps:
Guidance for former Johnson & Johnson HIV‑1 vaccine trial participants who might have VISP and need an HIV test.
If you have participated in an HIV‑1 vaccine clinical study conducted by Johnson & Johnson, please try to find your clinical study participant card/certificate.
If you received the investigational or research vaccine, you should have a card/certificate that confirms your participation and contains information on VISP.
Do you have this card/certificate?
Yes, I do have a card/certificate
No, I do not have a card/certificate
Please contact the doctor, investigator, or hospital/clinic where you participated in the clinical study or received the HIV‑1 vaccine to find out how to get the right HIV test.
I cannot find my card/certificate and/or do not remember if my study was conducted by Johnson & Johnson, also known as Janssen, or Janssen Vaccines and Prevention
Please contact the doctor, investigator, or hospital/clinic where you participated in the clinical study or received the HIV‑1 vaccine. If you determine that you were part of a Johnson & Johnson HIV‑1 vaccine study, please return to this website and click on “Contacts” above for further assistance. If you determine that you were not part of a Johnson & Johnson HIV‑1 vaccine study, please speak with your doctor or former study site to find out how to get the right HIV test. A list of Johnson & Johnson’s HIV‑1 vaccine studies is available via the below “Studies” button, if this information is helpful to you.