Question
Is it true that HIV doesn't survive long outside the body?
14 February 2008. Related: All topics.
hi
I was told that hiv virus if it is not in vacuum, i mean on surfaces, dies within minutes. Is it true?
thank you for your answer
Answer
Yes, HIV is quickly killed on contact with air.
You are probably right that within a few minutes, outside the body, any fluid that contained HIV is quickly non-infectious.
Other viruses – for example hepatitis B and C – remain infectious for much longer.
Hello Jeffrey and thanks for the comment.
I believe the studies you are referring to are done in a lab environment.
Compared to other viruses HIV is a very fragile virus, that can be very easily inactivated outside the human body (or appropriate culture plates).
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC182101/
Please feel free to share the research you are referring to.
Also, in theory it might only take one virus to reach a CD4 cell but in reality this is more difficult than it sounds.
Especially, in today’s world where most people living with HIV are (or should be) on ARVs the chances are even slimmer and for those who are undetectable it’s virtually zero chance to pass it on.
I am however missing your point Jeffrey. Why is how long HIV lives outside the human body important?
Actually all the double blind, peer reviewed scientific studies that have been done on HIV survival outside of the body proves the exact opposite. Studies repeatedly prove that HIV is a robust virus with unusual stability at room temperature on surfaces outside the body. Yes, one studied showed that HIV lost most of its infectivity within several hours. The several hours in the study is 17.5 hours. And 1 – 10% of the virus remained infectious up to 6 days outside the body in normal everyday circumstances on surfaces. It only takes 1 viral particle to bind with 1 CD4 cell to cause lifelong infection. There has never been a scientific study showing HIV dies within seconds or minutes when exposed to air. That is completely false.
Hello Udayveer and thanks for getting in touch.
It’s great you want to know more about your risk and how to protect yourself.
Please see this link for info on risk and testing.
https://i-base.info/qa/11844
Hello Udayveer and thanks for getting in touch.
It’s great you want to know more about your risk and how to protect yourself.
Please see this link for info on risk and testing.
https://i-base.info/qa/11844
What if vaginal fluid touch my penis after few minutes in air does hiv die in air because after that i having symptoms such as headaches and other symptoms
What if vaginal fuild touch my penis after few minutes in air does hiv die in air because after that im having symptoms such as headaches amd other symptoms
Hi Joseph, HIV will not be active outside of the body for more than 1-2 minutes. This only occurs when still in wet bodily fluids. If you come into contact with dry blood/saliva even within this time there is no risk of transmission.
For more information about transmission please see here: https://i-base.info/qa/factsheets/hiv-transmission-and-testing
Can someone share what do you mean by few minutes. Is it 1-2, <5, <10, <60, etc. Please .
Hi Leonard, HIV is not transmitted this way. Here’s a link to ways HIV is not transmitted. Guidelines for treatment around the world recommend starting treatment at any CD4 count. A CD4 count shows the strength of your immune system, which is the target of HIV. Here’s an introduction to HIV treatment (ART) for your Mom to read. It’s good that you are giving her support to start ART. Is ART easy to access where you live?
My mom is positive and my child swallowed a tissue with her blood, are there any chance of her to be infected with the virus? And how should she gets a treatment?