ART is to treat HIV and prevent it from replicating in the body HIV – is a combination of three or more antiretroviral drugs that target different stages of the HIV lifecycle. Antiretrovirals keep the virus at a low level in the body, improve the health of the immune system, and reduce the likelihood of passing HIV on. Effective treatment can reduce the virus to undetectable levels.
Evidence has firmly established that HIV “Undetectable = Untransmittable’ (U=U). An undetectable viral load for at least six months and continued treatment as prescribed, there is no risk of passing on HIV.” This means that people living with HIV who achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load – the amount of HIV in the blood – by taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) daily as prescribed cannot sexually transmit the virus to others. Thus, treatment for HIV is a powerful arrow in the quiver of HIV prevention tools.
