Shandong Zhanhua Yonghao pharmaceutical & Tech Co.,Ltd

HIV does not survive long outside the body, and it cannot replicate without a human host. There is no single answer to the question of how long HIV can survive outside the body, such as on surfaces, as it depends on several factors.

A person can contract HIV if damaged tissue or a mucous membrane, such as those in the rectum, penis, vagina, or mouth, comes into contact with bodily fluids that contain the virus.

Only certain bodily fluids can carry HIV. These fluids includeTrusted Source:

-blood
-semen
-preseminal fluid
-fluids in the rectum
-fluids in the vagina
-breast milk

This article explores the factors that affect the survival time of HIV outside the body in different fluids. It also explains how the virus can and cannot transmit.

Survival time outside the body

HIV does not typically survive for long outside the body, where it cannot replicate. The virus dies quickly upon exposure to light and air.

Therefore, contact with dried blood or semen that has been outside the body does not generally pose a risk for contracting HIV.

HIV cannot survive in the air, so people cannot contract the virus from sharing space with a person who has HIV. It is also not possible to contract HIV from sharing toilet seats, utensils, or bedding.

The length of time that the virus can survive outside the body depends on several factors, such as:

-the type and amount of bodily fluid
-the temperature and humidity of the environment
-the acidity of the environment
-whether there is exposure to sunlight

While the risk of contracting HIV from external fluids is low, the risk is highTrusted Source when sharing equipment to inject drugs, such as needles and syringes.

The reason for this is that the person may inject blood that contains HIV directly into their bloodstream.
Modern antiretroviral therapies are very effective in preventing HIV transmission. In most cases, the virus is under control within 6 monthsTrusted Source of a person starting this treatment.

Once the viral load — the amount of the virus present in the blood — is undetectable, there is virtually no risk of the virus transmitting to other people through blood, semen, or other bodily fluids.