When confirmed with the appropriate tests, a positive result can be considered definitive evidence of an HIV infection.
NAAT testing has helped reduce the risk of this.
What HIV-Positive Means
Ultimately, an HIV-positive diagnosis means that you have been infected with HIV.
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HIV vs. AIDS
An HIV-positive diagnosis does not mean you haveAIDS.
AIDS is a stage in infection where theimmune system is compromisedand unable to defend itself againstopportunistic infections.
This most often pops up if an infection is left untreated.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
AnHIV diagnosisalso doesnt mean you are going to die early.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
This may be anger, sadness, regret, guilt, or any number of other emotions.
All of these emotions are fair and reasonable, although some may take time to sort out.
What they hopefully do not do is keep you from seeking life-saving treatment.
Finding Support
Support means different things to different people.
To some, it means reaching out for emotional support to better deal with fears and anxieties.
Whatever the goals, building a support data pipe helps better ensure your physical and emotional well-being.
If both tests are positive, the diagnosis of HIV infection can be considered definitive.
A Word From Verywell
Receiving an HIV-positive diagnosis will almost invariably be a life-changing event.
Even so, make every effort not to presume the worst.
Educating yourself is key.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.HIV/AIDS treatment.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting tested for HIV.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Laboratory testing for the diagnosis of HIV infection: updated recommendations.
Food and Drug Administration.Information regarding the OraQuick In-Home HIV Test.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About HIV.
