HIV and Bodily Fluids

Question: Which bodily fluids transmit HIV? My brother was recently diagnosed HIV positive. There are five of us living in the house, and we need to know which bodily fluids can transmit HIV.
Answer: These bodily fluids have been shown to contain high concentrations of HIV:

• blood
• semen
• vaginal fluid
• breast milk
  * other body fluids containing blood

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. Persons living with HIV and persons providing home care for those living with HIV should be fully educated and trained regarding appropriate infection-control procedures. (Especially for men that shave.)

(Source: Centers for Disease Control)

• For information on HIV Home testing, see that page…
• HIV and Young Women
• HIV and Gay Men
• The Benefits of HIV Testing
• Cases of AIDS in the USA
• What Every Teen Needs To Know About HIV And AIDS.
• Food Safety for People Living with AIDS
• HIV Rapid Test
• HIV Testing Day

Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) National AIDS Hotline (toll-free, Eastern time):

• English service: 1-800-342-2437 (7 days a week, 24 hours a day)
• Spanish service: 1-800-344-7432 (daily 8 a.m. to 2 a.m.)
• TDD service for the deaf: 1-800-243-7889 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m., M-F) August 2004