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HIV / AIDS

I’ve heard a lot of different things about HIV surviving outside the body. What is the truth?

HIV is a very weak and fragile virus. Once the virus is outside the body in a dry form, it dies almost immediately. Even in a wet state, it does not live long (perhaps a few seconds), especially when exposed to heat, detergents, or disinfectants. When stored in blood banks at 4°C, it can live for several weeks or until the white bloods cells lose their viability. In a frozen state, however, it can survive indefinitely.

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