What does an “HIV-positive” test result mean?
A positive test result means your body has been infected by the human immunodeficiency virus – and that you are capable of transmitting it to others. The test did not look for the actual virus itself, but found evidence of it in your blood. There’s no way to tell from this result who gave you the virus, how long you’ve had it, or when it will begin to affect your health. You may see or hear the results called “HIV-positive,” “HIV+,” “HIV-antibody positive,” or “seropositive for HIV.” These terms all mean the same thing. People who have been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus are said to have “HIV disease.” While the virus itself is not a disease, it progressively damages the body’s immune system. This puts you at risk for developing illnesses you wouldn’t otherwise get. At this time, doctors don’t know of any way to rid the body of HIV. There is no cure. Once you’ve been infected, you have it for life. How does HIV harm the body? Viruses tend to be specialists. They zero in
