text: Which body fluids can transmit the HIV virus, and which ones don't?\n\nBlood, pre-cum, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk all contain high concentrations of HIV, and all have been linked to transmission of the virus. \n\nSaliva, tears, sweat and urine can have the virus in them, but in such small concentrations that nobody has ever been infected through them. However, if any body fluid is visibly contaminated with blood, the risk of transmission exists. \n\n\n\n\nHow is HIV transmitted?\nHIV must get into your bloodstream in order to infect you. If it doesn't get into the bloodstream, you will not get the infection. Blood, pre-cum, semen, vaginal secretions or breast milk must have direct access to your bloodstream in order to infect you. Activities where this can happen include vaginal intercourse (both partners), anal intercourse (both partners), giving oral sex, sharing needles (IV drugs, tattooing, etc.) and, rarely, through receiving a blood transfusion. HIV can also be transmitted from mother to child. HIV is not transmitted through any form of casual contact. \nIn summary, in order for infection to occur, three things must happen: \n\nYou must be exposed to pre-cum, semen, vaginal secretions, blood or breast milk, AND \nThe virus must get directly into your bloodstream through some fresh cut, open sore, abrasion etc., AND \nTransmission must occur, directly from one person to the other, very quickly (the virus does not survive more than a few minutes outside the body).\nNo matter what the circumstances are, if you think about these three criteria for transmission, you'll be able to determine whether you're at risk for HIV or not. But do remember that other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can be transmitted more easily than HIV, so what might be low risk for HIV may be high risk for other STDs.