Question
If my viral load is undetectable, can I still transmit HIV?
7 January 2019. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, HIV transmission.
I have been on ARVs for more than two years now and my viral load is undetectable, with a CD4 count of 900. Can I transmit HIV to my partner should I have unprotected sex?
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
Great question – and the answer is “no”.
Because your viral load is undetectable you cannot transmit HIV to sexual partners.
This is even if you do not use condoms.
So yes, if you want to stop using condoms, your partner will not be at any risk.
Please see here for more info:
https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Hi Sandra,
You aren’t at risk because your partner is undetectable, please see here for more info: http://i-base.info/u-equals-u/
Hi Sandra here.my partner viral load is undetectable. And i am hiv negative is it safe to have unprotected sex?
Hi Sipho,
Starting HIV treatment (ART) can reduced your viral load by 90% in the first few days. It then continues to fall but not as quickly. Soem people will get to undetectable within a month. But most people take up to three months.
There’s much more info on this similar Q&A here.
Someone who is HIV positive will always test positive. That’s because the test looks for antibodies that everyone produces when our bodies try to fight a virus or other infection.
Also wanted to ask how long does One get undetected … and when u go test again and is it still going to come out as Positive ?