There is no definitive answer to whether it’s possible to contract HIV from someone whose viral load is undetectable. Nonetheless, the likelihood of getting HIV from an undetectable individual is extremely low. In fact, the probability that an undetectable person will transmit HIV to someone else is minimal.
Understanding HIV Undetectable
In general terms, HIV is considered “undetectable” when the virus level in a person’s blood is so low that standard tests cannot identify it.
The term “undetectable” signifies that the HIV viral load in an individual is below the threshold detectable by standard testing methods—typically fewer than 50 copies of HIV per milliliter of blood (<50 copies/mL). This measurement of HIV in your bodily fluids is known as the viral load. Effective HIV treatment reduces the amount of HIV in bodily fluids to levels undetectable by standard tests, possibly even to trace amounts. Achieving an undetectable status is a significant milestone in managing HIV. It suggests that the virus has been suppressed significantly. However, continuous monitoring is essential to ensure your viral load remains at this reduced level. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) helps in maintaining this status. Note: The specific criteria for “undetectable” can vary between laboratories, and there isn’t an exact threshold that categorizes someone as completely HIV-free.
What Does Being HIV-Positive Mean?
Being HIV-positive indicates that an individual has contracted the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which can eventually lead to AIDS. Transmission can occur through contact with blood, semen, or other bodily fluids from an infected person. AIDS is a serious condition resulting from HIV and can be life-threatening.
Determining HIV status definitively requires professional medical testing, as the virus might not display symptoms for several years. HIV testing is the only reliable way to confirm the virus’s presence and assess your risk of developing AIDS.
If you’ve been diagnosed as HIV-positive, you may slowly begin to notice symptoms such as:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Joint pain
- Rash
- Sore throat
- Mouth sores
- Swollen lymph glands
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
Is Transmission Possible if HIV is Undetectable?
No, an undetectable status means the virus is present in such low quantities that it can’t be transmitted through bodily fluids like blood or semen. Essentially, you become non-infectious.
As long as your viral load remains undetectable, the risk of transmitting HIV to a sexual partner is zero.
Even though the risk is exceptionally low if your partner has an undetectable viral load, you might still want to use PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) to further minimize the chance of contracting the virus. When taken as prescribed, PrEP can be up to 99% effective at preventing HIV transmission.