function processData(data) {
  // taking care of data
}

function handler() {
  if(this.status == 200 &&
    this.responseXML != null &&
    this.responseXML.getElementById('test').textContent) {
    // success!
    processData(this.responseXML.getElementById('test').textContent);
  } else {
    // something went wrong
    …
  }
}

var client = new XMLHttpRequest();
client.onload = handler;
client.open("GET", "unicorn.xml");
client.send();