HIV is primarily found in the blood, semen or vaginal fluid of an infected person and is transmitted in three main ways:

• Having sex (anal, vaginal or oral) with someone infected with HIV

• Sharing needles and syringes with someone infected with HIV

• Being exposed (fetus or infant) to HIV before or during birth or through breast feeding

You may be at increased risk for infection if you have:

• injected drugs or steroids

• had unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex

• been given a diagnosis of, or been treated for, hepatitis, tuberculosis or a sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis.

HIV has been found in saliva and tears in very low quantities in some AIDS patients. Contact with saliva, tears or sweat has never been shown to result in transmission of HIV.

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention