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HIV Infection

Human immunodeficiency virus infection

Infection with HIV, which targets immune cells; without treatment it can progress to AIDS, and with treatment people can live long, healthy lives.

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IDENTIFIERHIV infectionView source record ↗

Overview

EXPLORE BY LEVEL

HIV is a that attacks the immune system. There is no cure yet, but daily medicine can keep the under control and prevent passing it on through sex.

Quick Facts

AT A GLANCE
CauseHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1 in most infections)
Test typesNucleic acid, antigen/antibody combination, and antibody tests

Follow the Connections

See how HIV Infection links to other biological records.

Open network
OrganismHuman immunodeficiency virus 1caused byBiomarkerHIV Antibodiesmarker forOrganismHuman immunodeficiency virus 2caused by
All 3 Structured Connections
HIV Infection · DiseaseCAUSED BY →Human immunodeficiency virus 1 · Organism
HIV Antibodies · BiomarkerMARKER FOR →HIV Infection · Disease
HIV Infection · DiseaseCAUSED BY →Human immunodeficiency virus 2 · Organism

Recommended Reading

Trusted references for learning more about HIV Infection.

guideHIV and AIDS fact sheetWorld Health Organization guideClinical Testing Guidance for HIVCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · HIV Nexus guideHIV Screening TestMedlinePlus Medical Tests databaseHuman immunodeficiency virus 1 (taxon 11676)NCBI Datasets Taxonomy Browser
Show 2 more sources
2018 Quick Reference Guide: Recommended Laboratory HIV Testing Algorithm for Serum or Plasma SpecimensCenters for Disease Control and Prevention · Association of Public Health Laboratories · guideHuman immunodeficiency virus 2 (taxon 11709)NCBI Datasets Taxonomy Browser · database
Research Claims

Testing algorithms balance window period and specificity: nucleic acid tests detect infection earliest, followed by antigen/antibody combination tests and then antibody-only tests. Antiretroviral therapy that keeps viral load undetectable prevents sexual transmission.

Every HIV test type has a window period after exposure during which it cannot yet detect infection; antibody-only tests have the longest window period.