If your test results are positive with a rapid test then
you need a lab test to confirm the result.
If your positive result came from a lab test, then the
confirmatory test will already have been done.
Testing positive for HIV often leaves a person overwhelmed
with questions and concerns. It is important to remember that HIV can be
treated effectively with HIV medicines. Treatment with HIV medicines
(called antiretroviral therapy or ART) is recommended for everyone
with HIV. HIV medicines help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives and
reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
The first step after testing positive for HIV is to see a
health care provider, even if you do not feel sick. Prompt medical care and
treatment with HIV medicines as soon as possible is the best way to stay
healthy.
After testing positive for HIV, what can a person expect
during their first visit with a health care provider?
After testing positive for HIV, a person’s first visit with
a health care provider includes a review of the person’s health and medical
history, a physical exam, and several lab tests. The health care provider also
explains the benefits of HIV treatment and discusses ways to reduce the risk of
passing HIV to others.
The information collected during a person’s initial visit is
used to make decisions about HIV treatment.
Which lab tests are used to make decisions about HIV
treatment?
A health care provider reviews a person’s lab test results
to:
- Determine
how far the person’s HIV infection has advanced (called HIV progression)
- Decide
which HIV medicines to recommend
The following lab tests are used to make decisions about HIV
treatment.
A CD4 count measures the number of CD4 cells in a sample of
blood. CD4 cells are infection-fighting cells of the immune
system. As HIV advances, a person’s CD4 count drops, which indicates
increasing damage to the immune system. Treatment with HIV medicines prevents
HIV from destroying CD4 cells.
A viral
load test measures how much virus is in the blood (HIV viral load). As
HIV progresses to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a person’s viral
load increases. HIV medicines prevent HIV from multiplying, which reduces a
person’s viral load. A goal of HIV treatment is to keep a person’s viral load
so low that the virus cannot be detected by a viral load test. This is known as
having an undetectable viral load.
Once HIV treatment is started, the CD4 count and viral load
are used to monitor whether the HIV medicines are controlling a person’s HIV.
Healthcare providers consider many factors when
recommending HIV medicines, including a person’s drug-resistance test results.
Drug-resistance testing identifies which, if any, HIV medicines will not be
effective against a person’s strain of HIV. The HIVinfo infographic What
do my lab results mean? has more information about tests used to
monitor HIV infection and treatment.
After testing positive for HIV, how soon do people start
taking HIV medicines?
People with HIV should start taking HIV medicines as soon as
possible after their HIV is diagnosed. However, before starting treatment,
people with HIV must be prepared to take HIV medicines every day for the rest
of their lives.
Issues, such as lack of health insurance or an inability to
pay for HIV medicines, can make it hard to take HIV medicines consistently.
Healthcare providers can recommend resources to help people deal with any
issues before they start taking HIV medicines.
During a person’s first visit with a healthcare
provider, is there time to ask questions?
Yes, an initial visit with a healthcare provider is a good
time to ask questions. The following are some questions that people with newly
diagnosed HIV typically ask:
- Because
I have HIV, will I eventually get AIDS?
- What
can I do to stay healthy and avoid getting other infections?
- How
can I prevent passing HIV to others?
- How
will HIV treatment affect my lifestyle?
- How
should I tell my partner that I have HIV?
- Is
there any reason to tell my employer and those I work with that I have
HIV?
- Are
there support groups for people with HIV?
- Are there resources available to help me pay for my HIV medicines?