Undetectable = Untransmittable, abbreviated U=U, is a health-education message conveying that a person living with HIV who has an undetectable viral load through antiretroviral treatment cannot sexually transmit the virus to others, embodying the treatment-as-prevention approach to HIV care. The message was developed by Bruce Richman, who founded the Prevention Access Campaign in 2015 and launched the U=U campaign globally in early 2016, drawing on a scientific consensus built from clinical trials involving thousands of couples. The campaign aims to transform public understanding of living with HIV by raising awareness and dismantling stigma, and by 2020 had gained support from more than 1,100 organizations across 105 countries as well as major health bodies including the World Health Organization.
Facts
Sponsoring BodyPrevention Access Campaign 1 Target PopulationPeople living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load, and their sexual partners 1 Health GoalTo change what it means to live with HIV by raising awareness and dismantling the stigma around HIV 1 Geographic ScopeGlobal, with commitments from organizations in 105 countries 1 Measured ResultsMore than 1,100 organizations in 105 countries have committed to spreading the U=U message 1 Program status (class) Classification
Program KindHealth Education Program 1 Connections
Associated With
Source Undetectable = Untransmittable (Wikipedia)
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Source U=U (Wikipedia)Lead section, transmission sentenceQuote, Lead section, transmission sentence
It means that if an HIV-positive person has an undetectable HIV viral load, they cannot sexually transmit HIV to others.
Sources
1. U=U (Wikipedia)
Lead section, origin sentence
U=U was first used in early 2016 by the Prevention Access Campaign, based on a scientific consensus statement.
Lead section, transmission sentence
It means that if an HIV-positive person has an undetectable HIV viral load, they cannot sexually transmit HIV to others.
Origins section
to change what it means to live with HIV by raising awareness and dismantling the stigma around HIV
International organisations section
1100 organizations in 105 countries have committed to spreading the U=U message in their communities.
Lead section, definition sentence
Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) is a health-education message used in HIV campaigns.
View the Source2. Undetectable = Untransmittable (Wikipedia)
- Wikipedia 'Undetectable = Untransmittable': present-tense description of current usage; checked 2026-09-27.
Associated With: Public Health, Lead section
Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U) is a health-education message used in HIV campaigns.
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