U=U is short for Undetectable equals Untransmittable. It refers to the amount of virus in a person's body being so small it cannot be detected on tests, even though it is still there.

U=U is a global campaign led by people living with HIV and based on scientific evidence. In short, people with HIV who are taking antiretroviral treatment (ART) and who have maintained for at least six months an undetectable level of the virus in their blood cannot pass HIV to someone else during sex. No other prevention strategies such as condoms or PrEP are needed to prevent HIV from being passed. Ribbon Community fully endorses this scientific evidence.

This scientific evidence also applies to pregnancy and birth: pregnant people living with HIV who are on treatment, engaged in care, and have an ongoing undetectable viral load can not pass HIV to their child. People living with HIV can have HIV-negative children when they have an ongoing HIV treatment.

Undetectable equals Untransmittable has been taken up by communities of people living with HIV, HIV organizations such as CATIE and Terrence Higgins Trust, federal health organizations including the Public Health Agency of Canada, professional associations including the British HIV Association, and UNAIDS.

Most people living with HIV in British Columbia have an undetectable viral load. A person's HIV status and their viral load is private medical information, and each person can choose if, how, when, and with whom to share information about their HIV status and/or viral load.