How should an RTRI result with a faint third line (long-term line) be interpreted?

A faint third line (long-term line) should be interpreted as long-term. The RTRI is not a diagnostic test. Different interpretations of a faint third line (long-term line) are acceptable. The third line (long-term line) measures the evolving antibody avidity and a person could truly be at the transition between recent and long-term infection and therefore the test may show a faint third line (long term line). Neither interpretation is wrong, keeping in mind that HIV status does not change irrespective of recency status.