What is viral suppression?

Viral suppression refers to the effective management of HIV, where the amount of the virus in the bloodstream is reduced to such low levels that it becomes undetectable using standard laboratory tests. This undetectable status means that the viral load has decreased significantly, which is typically below 50 copies of the virus per milliliter of blood.

Achieving and maintaining this undetectable level is essential for individuals living with HIV, as it not only improves their health outcomes but also significantly reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to sexual partners. This principle is encapsulated in the commonly used phrase "Undetectable = Untransmittable" (U=U), emphasizing that individuals who are virally suppressed cannot sexually transmit the virus to others.

The other choices do not accurately represent viral suppression. While completely eliminating HIV from the body would represent a cure, it is not achievable with current treatments. Experiencing flu-like symptoms may occur during the acute infection phase, but it does not characterize viral suppression. Finally, having a detectable level of HIV while on treatment signifies that the treatment is not effective in achieving viral suppression, which contradicts the definition of viral suppression itself.