What is an Undetectable Viral Load?
HIV treatment can reduce a person’s viral load – the amount of virus in blood and other bodily fluids – until it is ‘undetectable’, unable to be measured by current standard lab tests. Having an undetectable viral load is not a cure for HIV. There is still HIV present in the body but it cannot be measured. Importantly, recent research shows it cannot be passed on to other people.
What is Treatment as Prevention?
Relying on an undetectable viral load to prevent passing on HIV is called Treatment as Prevention. Recent research has shown that there is negligible risk of passing on HIV if a person has an undetectable viral load. Data released from the PARTNER Study in 2016 found there were no HIV transmissions between 888 sero-discordant heterosexual and gay couples – who between them had condomless sex an estimated 58,213 times – where the HIV Positive partner had a viral load under 200 copies/ml.
A couple may rely on an undetectable viral load as a means of HIV prevention if the following conditions are met:
- Viral load must have been undetectable for at least 6 months. This is measured by a viral load test which measures the amount of virus in a person’s blood. While the amount of virus present in other fluids such as semen or vaginal fluids may differ, recent research shows that an undetectable viral load indicates that there is negligible risk of HIV transmission.
- Medication must be taken as prescribed. Strict adherence to medication is important in achieving and maintaining an undetectable viral load. Missed doses can lead to medication being less effective, increasing your viral load and the possibility of developing resistance to the drug you are taking.
- There are no other STIs. For people with multiple partners regular STI checks are important.