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My doctor said that I somehow infected my partner even though I'm undetectable. He said he needs to look into this further to find out how this happened

January 28
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A myHIVteam Member

Just because you found it first. Doesn't mean it started with you. Or it could have been a viral blip. Does it seem like a new infection or something they've had for a minute. Based on your experience. Listen to the doctor and keep your head on a swivel

January 28 (edited)
A myHIVteam Member

Are you sure? I’m HIV negative but my partner is also undetectable but now I’m scared. 🫣

January 30
A myHIVteam Member

Who is you'r Dr? Was it an ID Dr or a GP? I'm also in Kansas City. This below is from the internet but I work at the Kansas City Health Dept in HIV Services, of course you can have the same viral DNA as the person who transmitted HIV to you or vise versa. You can message me directly if you like I can help you find another provider..

Yes, if someone transmits HIV, the recipient can initially have the same, or nearly identical, viral DNA, especially if the infection was transmitted recently. HIV inserts a DNA copy of its genetic information into the host cell's DNA. However, because HIV mutates very quickly, the virus will evolve differently in each person over time.
Key Details on Shared HIV DNA
Initial Infection: When a person is newly infected, the strain of HIV is usually a close copy of the donor's strain, sharing significant genetic material.
Rapid Mutation: HIV evolves quickly due to high mutation rates, meaning the virus in the new host will not stay identical to the original host's virus for long.
Integrated DNA: HIV inserts its genetic material (proviral DNA) into the host cell's DNA.
Clonal Growth: If an infected cell reproduces (divides), all of its descendant cells will contain the exact same, identical strain of HIV.

January 30
myHIVteam

How could you have transmitted HIV to your partner while being undetectable?

This is an unusual situation that understandably raises questions. When someone with HIV maintains an undetectable viral load through consistent antiretroviral therapy, the risk of transmitting HIV through sexual contact is extremely low—so low Show Full Answer

How could you have transmitted HIV to your partner while being undetectable?

This is an unusual situation that understandably raises questions. When someone with HIV maintains an undetectable viral load through consistent antiretroviral therapy, the risk of transmitting HIV through sexual contact is extremely low—so low that the HIV community often says "undetectable equals untransmittable."

However, there are a few important considerations:

Timing matters
- If transmission occurred before you became undetectable, this would explain the matching strains
- It takes time after starting treatment to reach undetectable status
- If there were any periods where your viral load increased (due to missed medications or other factors), transmission risk would be higher during those times

Verification is key
- It's crucial to verify that your viral load has truly been undetectable consistently
- Your doctor reviewing your treatment history and viral load records will help clarify the timeline

Your doctor's plan to investigate further is the right approach. They'll likely review when you became undetectable, your partner's testing history, and the timeline of your relationship to understand how transmission could have occurred.

January 28

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