That protein is called an antibody. HIV attacks the body's immune system, which protects the body from infections. Many HIV- infected persons have no symptoms for a long period of time. If you are HIV-infected you are also infectious and can transmit HIV to others through sexual intercourse or other risk behaviors, such as sharing needles. The problems that result from HIV infection vary.
Most people experience no symptoms at the time infection occurs.
After HIV has destroyed the body's immune system. All AIDS diagnosis is made when the immune system can no longer fight back against these infections. In very rare cases, it can be a few months, but typically it is more than 10 years. Most persons with hemophilia were infected between 1981 and 1984. Twenty-three percent have developed AIDS, suggesting that the average time from HIV infection to AIDS may be considerably longer than 10 years.