How Do I Screen for HIV? | Screening | Clinicians | HIV | CDC - ISS-G20 Laboratorium Repository

Taking HIV treatment prevents sexual transmission of HIV

Three landmark studies have shown that treatment prevents sexual transmission of HIV.1-3 Across all three studies, no linked HIV transmissions were observed between mixed-HIV-status partners when the partner with HIV was virally suppressed (defined in these studies as having a plasma HIV RNA viral load less than either 200 or 400 copies/mL).

These data provide conclusive evidence of the power of viral suppression in preventing HIV transmission. Although statistically, a non-zero risk estimate can never be completely ruled out in a mathematical sense, despite the number of observations, the data tell us that the best estimate for the transmission risk is zero and that future HIV transmissions are not expected when people with HIV remain virally suppressed.

Entire content available on: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/clinicians/treatment-care/treatment-as-prevention.html