Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSurvival of HIVRisk of InfectionMisperceptionsHow to Prevent HIV
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Survival of HIV
Risk of Infection
Misperceptions
How to Prevent HIV
This article explains how long HIV can survive outside of the body, including the conditions in which the virus can persist. It also looks at what’s required for HIV infection to take place and why it is unlikely—if not impossible—to get HIV once it leaves the body.
4 Conditions HIV Needs to Survive
HIV often dies within minutes of leaving the body. This is because the outer shell of the virus (called the viral envelope) consists of two layers of lipid (fat) molecules that are vulnerable to heat, UV radiation, and other environmental elements.
With that said, HIV can survive outside of the body for longer periods if specific conditions are met:
It is technically possible for HIV to survive outside of the body under these circumstances. Still, the risk of infection is at best unlikely.
4 Conditions Needed for HIV to Infect
Under the right conditions, HIV can survive outside of the body for up to six days.
But even if that were to occur, the odds of infection remain low to nil. This is because there are four conditions thatmustbe met in order for an HIV infection to take place:
Unless all four of these conditions are satisfied, an HIV infection simply cannot occur.
High- vs. Low-Risk Activities for HIV
Perceived vs. Actual Risk
There is often a big difference between what a person perceives their risk of HIV to be and what their actual risk is.
Perceived risk is an individual’s subjective evaluation of the risk of an illness. It is based either on a person’s belief regardless of the facts or a person’s interpretation of the facts. The perception can persist even though an event is unlikely.
By contrast, documented risk is an evaluation of risk based on available data. It is not meant to suggest that the data is infallible, but the longer a disease is tracked and studied, the stronger the evidence is.
After more than 35 years of HIV research, the likely and unlikely routes of infection are well-established. Even so, there are many who still question whether the unlikely routes are still possible. Such is the case with HIV and the risk of infection from needlestick injuries, body art, and oral sex.
Here is what the current research says:
Can HIV Be Spread Through Casual Contact?
How to Prevent HIV After the Fact
If in doubt as to whether you’ve been exposed to HIV, err on the side of caution and go to your nearest emergency room or walk-in clinic. The healthcare provider on site can tell you what your actual risk of infection is and offer you preventive treatment if there is any reasonable chance of exposure.
This involves a 28-day course of medications calledHIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). By taking the drugs every day as prescribed, you may be able to avert the infection. With that said, PEP needs to be started within 24 to 48 hours of exposure. After 72 hours, the treatment will be far less effective.
If your fear of infection is unreasonable and interfering with your quality of life, consider meeting with an HIV specialist to get the facts about HIV. You can also meet with a psychologist or psychiatrist who can address your anxieties and offer therapy and medications if needed.
Summary
HIV can live outside of the body for hours or longer if the conditions are right. This includes having cooler temperatures, avoiding UV radiation from the sun, and being in an environment that is neither too acidic nor too alkaline.
Even if HIV manages to survive in these conditions, the chances of infection are low to nil. This is because HIV infections occur when ample quantities of the virus are able to access deeper tissues of the body.
To date, there is no documented evidence of anyone getting HIV from surfaces or objects that have been contaminated with semen, blood, or other body fluids. This includes getting HIV from discarded needles.
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11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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