Get to know when positive (9)
I believe the answer is:
ascertain
'get to know' is the definition.
(ascertaining is a kind of getting to know)
'when positive' is the wordplay.
'when' becomes 'as' (eg 'when I walked' means 'as I walked').
'positive' becomes 'certain' (similar in meaning).
'as'+'certain'='ASCERTAIN'
(Other definitions for ascertain that I've seen before include "Get to know" , "Learn" , "settle" , "Find out for sure, determine" , "Find out - make sure" .)