Response: Scientists and medical authorities agree that HIV does not survive well outside the body, making the possibility of environmental transmission remote. HIV is found in varying concentrations or amounts in blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, saliva, and tears. To obtain data on the survival of HIV, laboratory studies have required the use of artificially high concentrations of laboratory-grown virus. 

Although these unnatural concentrations of HIV can be kept alive for days or even weeks under precisely controlled and limited laboratory conditions, CDC studies have shown that drying of even these high concentrations of HIV reduces the amount of infectious virus by 90 to 99 percent within several hours. 

Since the HIV concentrations used in laboratory studies are much higher than those actually found in blood or other specimens, drying of HIV-infected human blood or other body fluids reduces the theoretical risk of environmental transmission to that which has been observed – essentially zero.

Incorrect interpretations of conclusions drawn from laboratory studies have, in some instances, caused unnecessary alarm.

Results from laboratory studies should not be used to assess specific personal risk of infection because (1) the amount of virus studied is not found in human specimens or elsewhere in nature, and (2) no one has been identified as infected with HIV due to contact with an environmental surface. 

Additionally, HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions; therefore, it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host. 

Additionally, we recommend that you read and pay close attention to the following: 

Which body fluids transmit HIV? 

These body fluids have been shown to contain high concentrations of HIV:

·          blood

·          semen

·          vaginal fluid

·          breast milk

·          other body fluids containing blood

The following are additional body fluids that may transmit the virus that health care workers may come into contact with:

·          fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord,

·          fluid surrounding bone joints

·          fluid surrounding an unborn baby

HIV has been found in the saliva and tears of some persons living with HIV, but in very low quantities. It is important to understand that finding a small amount of HIV in a body fluid does not necessarily mean that HIV can be transmitted by that body fluid. HIV has not been recovered from the sweat of HIV-infected persons. Contact with saliva, tears, or sweat has never been shown to result in transmission of HIV.  (Source:  CDC) 

As always, we urge  you to write to us if you have a question, comment, or wish to share some information  or experience with us.  Our mailing address is: 

HIV/AIDS Mailbox

Guyana Chronicle

Lama Avenue

Bel Air Park

Georgetown 

Or email:  waronhiv@ yahoo.com 

Best wishes,

Shirla