Undetectable Viral Load — Not a Guarantee Against Transmitting HIV

Detectable HIV RNA in semen concurrent with undetectable plasma HIV RNA is not an uncommon event, a finding which may have implications for HIV transmission.

Results from the HPTN 052 trial demonstrated antiretroviral therapy (ART) to be a powerful tool for both treatment and prevention, reducing the likelihood of HIV transmission by 96%. Some experts have suggested that suppression of HIV to undetectable levels in plasma virtually eliminates the risk for transmission, and in 2008, the Swiss Federal AIDS Commission declared that HIV-infected individuals on “effective ART” were “sexually noninfectious” if they did not have any other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, data from two recent studies suggest the need for caution.

Lambert-Niclot and colleagues evaluated 628 paired blood and semen samples collected from 304 HIV-infected men seeking assisted reproductive technology support b…

Reviewing Author

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services

Charles B. Hicks, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardGilead Sciences; ViiV; Merck

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc.

Grant / Research supportNIH; Department of Health and Human Services

Undetectable Viral Load — Not a Guarantee Against Transmitting HIV

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Reviewing Author