References UK clinical guidance from the NHS, the British HIV Association (BHIVA), and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH). Last updated: April 2026.
Misinformation about HIV transmission is still common. Many people worry unnecessarily about casual contact, shared facilities or everyday activities that carry zero HIV risk. The reality is that HIV is only transmitted through specific body fluids — blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, rectal fluids, vaginal fluids and breast milk — and only when these reach the bloodstream or mucous membranes of another person.
Here’s a clear list of ways you cannot get HIV.
Order a discreet home HIV test
Ways HIV Cannot Be Transmitted
| Activity | HIV Risk |
|---|---|
| Kissing (including deep kissing) | Zero — saliva doesn’t transmit HIV |
| Hugging, shaking hands, touching | Zero |
| Sharing food, drinks, cups or cutlery | Zero |
| Sharing a toilet seat | Zero |
| Swimming pools and hot tubs | Zero |
| Sharing bed linen, towels or clothing | Zero |
| Coughing or sneezing | Zero |
| Insect bites (mosquitoes, bed bugs) | Zero |
| Donating blood (in the UK) | Zero — sterile single-use equipment |
| Tattoos and piercings at reputable premises | Zero — sterile equipment |
| Sex with someone on effective treatment (U=U) | Zero |
| Being in the same room or workplace | Zero |
Why HIV Can’t Be Transmitted These Ways
- Saliva, sweat, tears and urine contain levels of HIV far too low to transmit infection
- HIV doesn’t survive long outside the body — it’s killed by air, drying and most cleaning products
- Skin is a barrier — HIV can’t cross intact skin
- Mosquitoes don’t inject blood from one person into another and HIV doesn’t replicate in insects
Ways HIV Can Be Transmitted
For context, HIV is transmitted through:
- Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex (oral sex carries very low risk)
- Sharing injecting equipment
- Mother to child during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding (without treatment)
- Needlestick injuries and occupational exposure
- Blood transfusions (not in the UK — screening eliminates this)
What About U=U?
U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) means that when someone with HIV is on effective treatment and has a sustained undetectable viral load, they cannot pass HIV on sexually. This is backed by overwhelming evidence from major studies. It means that many people with HIV pose no transmission risk to their partners.
Read more: HIV transmission and U=U | Estimating risk | What is HIV?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get HIV from a toilet seat?
No. HIV cannot be transmitted through toilet seats, urine or faeces. The virus doesn’t survive on surfaces.
What about sharing food or drinks?
No HIV risk. Saliva contains substances that neutralise HIV, and the amounts of virus present are too low to transmit even if it didn’t.
Can I catch HIV from living with someone who has it?
No. Normal household contact — cooking, eating, sharing bathrooms, hugging — carries zero HIV risk.
Related reading
- Can You Catch an STI From a Toilet Seat?
- Can You Get Chlamydia From Kissing?
- Can You Get Herpes From a Toilet Seat?
- Can You Get Herpes From Kissing?
- Can You Get an STI if You're Both Virgins?
Sources
- NHS — Sexual health conditions
- BASHH — UK clinical guidelines for STI management
- British HIV Association (BHIVA) — HIV treatment guidelines
- Terrence Higgins Trust — sexual health information
- UK Health Security Agency — STI surveillance data
Steve Page is a recognised expert on Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and STD treatments, having published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented his research at conferences around the world. He has an in-depth understanding of the latest medical research on STDs, and is an advocate for the development of new treatments and protocols to improve the health of those affected. In addition to his research, he has dedicated his career to understanding the causes and symptoms of STDs, as well as how to best treat those impacted.
