Difference Between HIV Positive & HIV Negative

HIV disease continues to spread worldwide. It is important that we are aware of its characteristics, including the markers of infection. Before entering an intimate relationship, HIV knowledge and understanding is essential to remain disease-free. One of the primary terms to describe an established HIV infection is "HIV positive," but "HIV negative" does not necessarily mean no infection is present. The following will explore just what these two terms really mean.

Facts

• First, it is necessary to define the difference between HIV exposure and HIV infection. Exposure simply means that an individual has been exposed to the HIV virus. It does not necessarily mean that the individual will become infected with the virus, although continued exposures increase the chances of infection.

  When infection occurs, the body will recognize the invader and fight back. The body's infection response mechanism produces antibodies to fight the virus, and it is the presence of these antibodies that confirms that an individual has been infected. The presence of HIV-specific antibodies in an individual's blood then defines that person as "HIV positive," meaning he also carries the HIV virus, and he can spread it to other people. "HIV negative" means the body has not produced antibodies to the virus.

Considerations

• When an individual is HIV negative, it usually means the person is disease-free. However, there is one exception. Once an HIV infection is established, it takes the body up to six weeks to produce antibodies to the virus. It is possible for an individual to be HIV negative with an active infection if that infection occurred within a few weeks, and the body has not yet produced antibodies.

How Do I Know My Status?

• An HIV status--positive or negative--is easy to determine, and it involves a simple blood test. Results are usually available in a few days. There is also an oral test, which involves no needles. The technician simply swabs the cheek tissue, which is painless. Results are available in as little as 20 minutes.

Benefits

• Knowing your status--and the status of your sexual partner--is important to avoid infection. Safer sex with the use of a condom becomes essential with an individual who is HIV positive or with someone where the status is not known.

Misconceptions

• Being HIV positive does not mean an individual is outwardly sick; he may appear to be perfectly healthy. Without an HIV antibody test, he may not even know he carries the virus and can spread it to others. Only a test will verify a status. HIV transmits via semen, vaginal fluids and blood. It is not spread through saliva and sweat. Besides sex, the most common transmission vehicle is shared needles.

Prevention

• HIV status knowledge is the key to preventing the spread of HIV disease and to preventing illness with those that already have been infected. Although there is no cure yet, promising therapies have delayed the onset of serious disease.