HIV Tests and Antibodies

When HIV enters the body, it begins to attack certain white blood cells called T4 lymphocyte cells (helper cells). Your doctor may also call them CD4 cells. The immune system then produces antibodies to fight off the infection. Thus, the presence of HIV antibodies results from being infected with HIV. Although these antibodies are ineffective at destroying HIV, their presence is used to confirm an infection. HIV tests look for the presence of HIV antibodies; they do not test for the virus itself.