3.4. What does the result mean?

If you test positive
* If you test HIV positive, it means you are infected with HIV.
* You may feel shock, anger, fear or guilt. Strong feelings are normal.
* It may take time for you to accept your HIV status.
* When you feel ready, talk to someone you trust who can give you support:
- Friend or family member
- Counsellor
- Doctor or health worker
- Faith leader
- Traditional healer
- National AIDS Helpline - 0800 012 322
* Testing HIV positive does not mean that you have AIDS.
* Many people who test positive stay healthy for several years, even if they don't start taking medication right away.
* Your counsellor or doctor will encourage you to live a healthy lifestyle and to be responsible about sexual matters.
* If you choose a healthy life you can live a long time with HIV in your body. A healthy life will keep your immune system strong.
* It is important to note that it is not true that if you live with HIV, you cannot get infected with HIV again. You can!
* Always use a condom when you have sex to protect yourself from getting infected again.
See 2.5 I am living with HIV
If you test negative
* If you test HIV negative, you are not infected with HIV unless you are in the 'window period'.
See 1.4 What are the stages of the disease?
* If you had sex without a condom recently, the virus may not show up in the first test.
* Wait for 3 months and go for another test.
* But you can still get HIV in the future.


NOTE! Read more about HIV and AIDS by following the menu on the left.