An independent panel monitoring a multi-national study has recommended that the results be released four years early.  The study has clearly shown that treating HIV positive subjects with antiretroviral drugs as soon as they test positive dramatically reduces the chances they will pass the HIV virus on to others.

In randomized testing of 1,763 couples, 97% heterosexual, in which one was HIV positive and one was not, the group which began treatment early had a significantly lower rate of transmission to the uninfected partner.  In the group where treatment began later but within normal treatment parameters, 27 infections occurred, while in the other group, which began treatment immediately, only one infection occurred.

Researchers continue to study the results, and no changes have been made in recommended treatment regimens as yet.

The Wall Street Journal has the complete report, here.