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Frequently Asked Questions - Infection

If a person is exposed to the body fluids of a person who is HIV+ either through sex or through accident, is it certain that they will become infected? No. Being exposed to HIV infection does not guarantee that you will become infected. Three things play a part in the determination. First, it depends on something called the ‘viral load’ of the infected person. This simply means how many viral particles are in their bloodstream at the time of the incident. The lower the viral load, the less the chance of transmission.

The second is the amount of infectious body fluid the person was exposed to. Again, the smaller the amount, the less chance. And the third is the port of entry. The larger the area and the deeper into the body it goes, the greater the risk.

How can you tell if you're infected? There is no way anyone can tell just by looking if a person is infected. There is one, and only one way to tell if you are infected with the HIV virus, and that is to get tested. A person who is not tested can be infected for a very long time, sometimes as long as 10 years, before they start to feel the first inkling that something is not right.

Getting tested for HIV is a very personal decision. Many people who have not put themselves at high risk have chosen to be tested, and the majority of people who chose to get tested do not test positive for the antibodies. Those who are practicing high-risk behaviors, the ones most likely to be infected, often are scared and avoid getting tested.