Antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are a type of immunoglobulin that is produced by the body’s immune system after the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, infects the body. As a simple analogy, after exposure to the hepatitis B virus or the hepatitis B vaccine, the hepatitis B virus or the hepatitis B vaccine will stimulate the body’s immune system to produce antibodies to hepatitis B. These antibodies protect the body from infection by the hepatitis B virus. However, unlike this, antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus do not provide any protection, so a positive test for antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus only indicates that the patient is infected with HIV, not that the patient has some resistance to HIV. If the human immunodeficiency virus antibody is positive, it is important to see a doctor promptly to do the next step of treatment.