HIV

[100help100]

I am new to this website and found it very useful. I have two questions and need some advice.

I had a rapid finger prick HIV test yesterday and the result was negative. I cleaned my finger prick thing with a tissue and walked out of the room and since then I have become paranoid thinking that the door handle i touched to open door might have been contaminated by someone as it is a NHS HIV testing centre. What are the chances of getting infection in this way? Please help.

Secondly on 4th Nov I had a exposure with a cross dresser where there was no sex involved but I inserted my fingers in his anal. What are the chances of getting infection in this way? Please help.
And if there was a skin peeling under your nails or had a cut? After 28 days from the exposure I went for HIV DUO test which for which the result came as Not Detected. Do I need any further testing. Please advice.

I am on a stage where I can't stop myself from googling information on HIV from morning till evening, carry a antibacterial hand gel with me, carry a thermometer with me to check body temperature every half and hour, keep on checking my body in front of mirror, keep on pressing my throat, cant concentrate at work, not even at home, scary flashes keep on coming up in front of my eyes, dont eat properly, dont go gym anymore and feel like crying all the time. All this is being happening from November 2012.

[Ann]

100,

You have NOT had a risk for hiv infection.

Fingering is NOT a risk, regardless of cuts or hangnails or whatever on your fingers. Not one person has ever been infected through fingering and you're not going to be the first.

Hiv is only able to infect a very few, very specific types of cells, cells which are not found on the surface of the skin nor in small cuts or abrasions.

Touching doorknobs or anything else in the environment is also not a risk.

Hiv is a fragile, difficult to transmit virus that is primarily transmitted INSIDE the human body, as in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse where the virus never leaves the confines of the two bodies.

Once outside the body, small changes in temperature, and pH and moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect. For this reason, you're not going to become infected with hiv from a doorknob.

You do NOT have hiv.

Here's what you need to know in order to avoid hiv infection:

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL sexually transmitted infections together.

To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with an STI. Sex without a condom lasts only a matter of minutes, but hiv is forever.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED TO TEST FOR HIV SPECIFICALLY OVER NO RISK FINGERING, anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results.

Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid hiv infection. It really is that simple!

Ann

[100help100]

Thanks Ann. I really wanted you to reply as you sound professional. If you dont mind me asking, Are you a health advisor?

Also previous to the cross dresser encounter I had a encounter in October 2012 first week with one of the working girls. There was full anal sex but I am sure I had a condom on my penis. The only thing i did without protection was to finger her vagina and she was very wet. I got tested after three months on 8th January 2013 and then on 10th January 2013 again. The test I had both days was rapid finger prick test and result was one dot which the health advisors said means negative. Do I need more testing for October 2012 encounter?

Everyone says that once the virus get exposed to air it dies but no once can tell how quick. Someone said to me withing sec to a min. Then I think is thats the case and I touched the door handle directly with the finger prick hole within sec to a min then what is the risk?

Another main reason of sending you this post was that with a week and bit from day I touched the door handle i.e. on 8th January 2013 I am having bit of funny throat like sore and got scared again.

[100help100]

Also Ann, forgot to ask why everyone says fingering is low risk then?

[RapidRod]

Anyone that is educated in HIV, won't tell you it's a low risk when it's not a risk at all.   

[jkinatl2]

Also Ann, forgot to ask why everyone says fingering is low risk then?

I have no idea why incorrect and obsolete information is present on the internet, in the world, or even in the heads of professionals who should know better. All I can tell you is that this site offers the best HIV transmission risk assessment in the world, period. We are up to date and we know our science.