LONDON — AIDS experts called for more tests on a British man who claims his body has rid itself of the virus that causes AIDS.

Andrew Stimpson, 25, told two British newspapers that he tested positive for HIV in August 2002, but that tests 14 months later came back negative. He told the Mail on Sunday, “I can’t help wondering if I hold the cure for AIDS.”

Stimpson also was interviewed by News of the World, which said it paid for the story – a common practice in Britain – but declined to reveal how much. The Mail on Sunday could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare Trust, which conducted Stimpson’s HIV tests, confirmed he had had a positive test followed by a negative one, but would not say this meant he was cured.

“This is a rare and complex case,” the hospital said in a statement. “When we became aware of Mr. Stimpson’s HIV negative test results we offered him further tests to help us investigate and find an explanation for the different results.

“So far Mr. Stimpson has declined this offer.”

Stimpson told the Mail on Sunday he was happy to submit to further tests.

“This appears to be a highly unusual case and without further tests it really is impossible to draw any conclusions for people living with HIV,” said Deborah Jack, chief executive of the National AIDS Trust.

back story: A number of newspapers reported that Andrew Stimpson, 25, was diagnosed with the virus in 2002. He later tested negative in 2003.

Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust, which carried out the tests, now want him to undergo more before it can be established how he apparently beat the disease. Mr Stimpson said he did not take any medication for HIV.

A spokeswoman said: “These tests were accurate and they were his, but what we don’t know at the moment is why that has happened, and we want him to come back in for more tests. It is potentially a fantastic thing.”

Stimpson was tested three times in August 2002 at the Victoria clinic for sexual health in central London.

The results showed he was producing HIV antibodies to fight the killer disease.

He took vitamins and other dietary supplements in the hopes that this might prevent full-blown Aids from developing.

After impressing doctors with his good health, Stimpson was offered a new test in 2003.

It came back negative, and further tests in December 2003 and March 2004 also proved negative.

He told a newspaper: “It was the last thing I expected. I was astonished. I was baffled too.

“I couldn’t understand how anyone could cure themselves of HIV . . . I thought it had to be wrong because no one can recover from HIV, it just doesn’t happen.”

The tests were re-checked by the Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust and they confirmed all the tests had been accurate.

The case has baffled medical experts and they want to study Mr Stimpson in the hope that they can learn more about beating HIV.