VCT provides the opportunity for people to know their HIV status with quality counseling support to help them cope with a positive or a negative test result.

The majority of adult populations are HIV negative, even in high HIV prevalence settings. Knowing one is HIV negative can serve as a strong motivating factor to remain negative, particularly for those who may otherwise assume it is too late to adopt safer sexual practices.

For people who test positive, while VCT services can link them to options for treatment if and where they exist, and to care and support, just as important, it allows for adoption of preventive measures.

For some, self-protection is a stronger motivator for safer sex than the need to protect others; for others, the responsibility to avoid spreading the virus is itself the critical motivator. Both contribute to HIV prevention.

By knowing one's positive status, HIV positive individuals may become more motivated to adopt a more healthy lifestyle that improves their health status and slows the progression from HIV infection to symptomatic HIV disease and full blown AIDS – for example, avoiding further risks of infection with other viral strains and STIs, seeking early treatment for opportunistic and HIV/AIDS related infections, eating healthy food, avoiding tobacco and reducing stress.

Knowing one is HIV positive also provides an opportunity to protect sexual partners and to plan for the future from an informed position - deciding on marriage and on child bearing, and preparing children and family for the progression of disease and death.

Today, there are many HIV positive people who are living healthy and positive lives. They serve as strong and effective HIV/AIDS advocates and also provide valuable support and motivation for others infected with HIV and affected by the epidemic.