Donating blood

[SplitSecond]

*I hope it's the right place to ask this question*

I have a question that I couldn't find an answer to anywhere in these forums.

Two weeks ago I went to donate blood with my boyfriend. To be perfectly honest the sole reason for doing so was to get tested for HIV and other STDs. We both tested negative but there is something that's been bugging me ever since I donated.

As I read here there's a time window in which the virus can't be detected through tests. Now, I don't know what tests they're using here but what happens if I actually turn out positive in 3 months (provided I don't engage into any risky actions in the meantime, just say I did something stupid not long before I donated &met my boyfriend). So if my blood is transfused to someone are they likely to contract HIV even if I tested negative two weeks ago and at the 3 months point I turn out otherwise?

The other reason behind rising this matter is that I had an extremely violent fight with my brother a few days ago. We were both bleeding quite badly losing a lot of blood to the point where the floor in the entire
appartament was slippery. I know it sounds drastic, but I'm just trying to give you an accurate picture of what was going on. As we fought I managed to tackle him down and as I was sitting on him the blood from cuts on my face was dripping into his eyes and into the big cut in his face he sustained after I headbutted him.

Regardless of how I feel about my brother, I don't want him to contract anything like that from me. I already know that you can contract HIV from direct contact with blood, but what are the chances if I tested negative in my recent test?

Thank you for answering and apologies for my compromised English.

[RapidRod]

You never use the blood bank to test for infectious diseases. Did you even read the questionaire that you had to sign before donating blood?

[SplitSecond]

I did. So you mean their blood test is good for nothing?

[RapidRod]

What if you donated blood an you had a recent exposure and they had a disaster that they used up the blood supply and later your sample turns up positive? That is why we have clinics and doctors offices to go get your HIV tests.

[SplitSecond]

This is something I don't know hence posting. And you're not really explaining why the bloodbank tests are not a way to indicate your HIV status. Their have their own clinics to run the tests and I don't think these people just sit and try to guess if a sample is positive or not by just looking at it.

I don't know what happens to the donated blood afterwards - if there's a second check three months after it had been donated to ensure it's free of HIV or it's given out light-handedly.

[RapidRod]

Fresh blood is only kept 42 days not three months and fresh frozen plasma is kept for one year and then disposed of. They do multiple tests, but that doesn't say that the tests catch all, that is one of the reasons for the questionaire. Use a clinic to do your HIV or any STD testing.

[SplitSecond]

That's what I needed. Thanks.

I think I'll wait three months before getting tested again - I don't wan't to get tested on a weekly basis and undergo all that anxiety it ivolved the last time as some people do here - I couldn't bear that right now. At least it's reassuring that 'the stupid thing' I had done prior meeting my bf and donating blood was very low risk - although it freaked me out a big time.

[Andy Velez]

Well if you have been having unprotected intercourse with your bf then you do need to get tested.

Also of importance, you ought to be using condoms for vaginal and anal intercourse until if and when you find yourself in a securely monogamous relationship in which both partners have tested negative together at a reliable point.

Good luck with your test when you take it.

[SplitSecond]

Thanks, I already know that. But the the event that freaked me out was of other nature than having unprotected anal/vaginal sex. I always use condoms.

Well a few days before I met my boyfriend my friend was sleeping over and we were fooling around. He was giving me a blowjob and as I pulled out my penis out of his mouth it was covered in blood. I rushed to the toiled to rinse it down with hot water and soap and disinfected it (whitch was very unpleasant). There were no cuts on my penis and I didn't cum. That was the first time that happened to me so it was a real shocker. It turned out his gums were sore and for some reason started to bleed during oral sex. I spoke to another friend of mine which is a Doc about that encounter and her reassured me that was a fairly low risk. The posts on this forums confirm that. I can't reach the Doc right now so I decided to ask here about the possible consequences of the fight with my brother.

This said, telling me about the use of condom for sex is not really helping me right now. I need to know the risk of infecting via direct blood contact (blood dripping to an open wound) during a fight in the light of testing negative in my recent test.

[Andy Velez]

What you are worrying about is not a fairly low risk. It is a NO risk.

Receiving oral sex is one of the most common of sexual activities. In the entire history of the epidemic there has not been a single confirmed case of transmission in that manner. It's safe to say that even with the blood involved, you are not going to make history by becoming the first. Seeing blood is scary but I don't see any cause for concern nor for testing.

[SplitSecond]

Well thanks. It's been reassuring again. As I said before my main concern was the brother who was exposed to my blood through open cuts in a fight.

My bf and my brother are gone from my life now. Though I'm bed-bound now due to broken ribs, thanks to you I don't have to think about him getting infected from me, just need to pick up my pieces together.

Keep up your good work and thank you again.