Which body fluids are infectious?

The risk of HIV transmission is related to different factors. These include:

  • Which body fluids are infectious.
  • How infection occurs – often called the ‘routes of infection’.
  • Other risk factors including viral load, type of sex, genetics etc.

Only some bodily fluids have the potential to be infectious.

These include:

  • Sexual fluids (semen and vaginal fluid).
  • Mucus from the vagina and anus.
  • Blood.
  • Breast milk is infectious to a baby but is unlikely to be infectious to an adult.
  • Tears may be infectious but this is more a theoretical caution than a likely route of actual transmission.

Saliva, spit, urine and faeces are not infectious for HIV.

There then has to be a route for another person to become infected.

Category: HIV Transmission

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