Choosing a doctor, therapy and more

If you have received a positive HIV test result, you should have a medical consultation as soon as possible. (See also Which doctor is right for me?)

Your doctor will take a sample of blood to see how much HIV you have in your body. They will also determine how much damage the virus has done to your immune system.

These tests will be done regularly from this point on. If the tests show that the level of HIV in your body has rapidly increased or that your immune system has already been damaged, your doctor will recommend that you start HIV treatment.

Depending on when you are diagnosed, you may not need treatment straight away.  But it is important not to wait too long to start treatment, so that the virus does not do too much damage to your immune system.