Does Undetectable  = Untransmissable?

In my experience training medical residents and nurses on the care of individuals with chronic hepatitis C, I found that their teaching points focused on our scientific knowledge of hepatitis C. Scientifically, sexual transmission of hepatitis C is rare, but, more to the point, I would tell my patients and my students that we should focus our educational points not just on the science but also on our patients ’ actual needs. So, in the same sentence explaining the rarity of sexual transmission, I would say, “but hepatitis C is not the only thing you want to prevent.” I am a scientist, and so the science confirming that undetectable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is untransmissible is undoubtedl y exciting.
Source: The Journal for Nurse Practitioners - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Point/Counterpoint Source Type: research