AEMCA Practice Exam

What does it mean if someone is HIV positive?

1. The person has AIDS

2. The person has produced antibodies against HIV

3. The person is asymptomatic

4. The person cannot transmit the virus

The correct answer is: The person has produced antibodies against HIV

When someone is labeled as HIV positive, it means that the individual has been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and has produced antibodies against the virus. This detection typically happens through various tests that identify the presence of these antibodies in the blood, indicating that the body has recognized the virus and is mounting an immune response against it. Having antibodies does not imply that the person has developed AIDS, which is the advanced stage of HIV infection characterized by a severely weakened immune system and specific opportunistic infections or cancers. Therefore, the correlation between being HIV positive and having AIDS is not direct. While some individuals who are HIV positive can be asymptomatic (showing no visible symptoms of illness), this is not universally true for all who are infected. It is important to note that even if a person appears healthy, they can still transmit HIV to others. Lastly, having HIV does not mean a person cannot transmit the virus. In fact, individuals who are HIV positive are capable of transmitting the virus to others, especially if they are not receiving antiretroviral therapy, which can reduce viral load to undetectable levels, thereby significantly lowering the risk of transmission.