HIV genetic material (proviral DNA) may remain ‘silent’ in latent infected cells for a prolonged period. Most current antiretroviral drugs do not kill these cells nor eliminate the viral genetic material within them. It is not yet know how long it would take for all HIV-infected cells to die off naturally, but estimates range up to 80 years. As long as HIV remains present, there is potential for the virus to reactivate, escape from ‘reservoir’ sites and again begin to replicate throughout the body.