HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a fragile virus once it leaves the human body. Unlike bacteria or some other viruses that can survive on surfaces or in the air for a long time, HIV doesn’t live long outside its host. When exposed to open air, HIV quickly becomes inactive due to the environment — especially factors like temperature, air exposure, and drying out.
Under normal conditions, HIV can only survive a few minutes to a couple of hours outside the body, and even then, the amount of virus is so minimal and weak that it becomes non-infectious.
For instance, blood that has dried on a surface will no longer contain active HIV because the virus cannot withstand the drying process.
In laboratory settings, where conditions can be controlled and favorable, the virus may last a bit longer sometimes hours or even days in high concentrations but this is not reflective of real-life situations.
Importantly, there are no confirmed cases of HIV being transmitted through casual contact with surfaces, dried blood, or environmental exposure.
HIV is transmitted through specific bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, rectal fluids, and breast milk and only when these come into direct contact with a mucous membrane, damaged tissue, or are directly injected into the bloodstream.