Q. A 36-year-old male presents to the emergency department with oral lesions and a fever. The patient is HIV positive and has been on antiretroviral therapy for the past 10 years. He reports a history of occasional opportunistic infections but has been otherwise stable. The patient is a smoker and drinks alcohol occasionally. His home medications include tenofovir, emtricitabine, efavirenz, acetaminophen, and nicotine replacement patches for smoking cessation. On physical examination, his temperature is 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), blood pressure is 130/90 mm Hg, heart rate is 72/min, and his respiratory rate is 18/min. You detect multiple oral lesions on his oral mucosa, primarily on his gums and the roof of his mouth (see image). The lesions are purple, raised, and have irregular borders. His remaining physical assessment is unremarkable. You order blood work, which reveals a mild anemia and a CD4 count of 230 cells/uL. Based on the patient's oral lesions and low CD4 count, you diagnose him with Kaposi's sarcoma, an opportunistic infection that commonly affects HIV positive individuals with low CD4 counts. You counsel the patient regarding treatment options. He also has questions regarding his acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Which of the following statements is FALSE concerning his HIV status?