POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: sallyP on March 03, 2013, 10:27:19 am
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Hi,
Thanks for letting me join, I have been browsing the forum and it will be great to get an expert opinion, you guys really know what you are talking about.
I did actually ask this question on another forum and although I got a risk assessment I still don't fully understand. I am really hoping you will be able to explain things to me :)
Ok. so first of all the 'risk'... this might sound a little craxy but it seems reading the posts on here you guys are used to all sorts of questions! I started taking some vitmains that I had ordered over the internet, from ordering to delivery it must have taken 5/6 days. I have been taking them for a week, when I went to take them last night I noticed the tablet had blood on it. I looked checked myself to see where the blood was coming from and I was not bleeding, nothing on the table where the pills came from just a big splotch of semi coagulated blood on this pill!!!
Initially I just threw it in then bin but then I started to worry where the blood had come from, if it wasn't me and there was nobody else in the house then where??
So... what I am interested to understand is if somebody at the factory had cut themselves while packing them and then the container was sealed (you know the type of seal that stops air going in not just a lid) would this me that the virus (if it was present) would still be active and therefore by me swallowing the pills (if they were contaminated would I be at risk for HIV etc..)
The thing that has me confused is that I have read about how the virus becomes deactivated in the environment but does the fact that blood is sealed in an air tight container mean it cannot be deactivated by air... like a hollow bore needle?
If air can't get in how does the virus deactivate?
I relaly hope I am making sense, I am sure I seem like a total irrational nutjob but it really is bothering me as I have no idea where the blood came from.
Also, if I did swallow a pill with blood on it and an activated virus does this put me at risk.
My two questions really relate to blood being sealed in an air tight container (with the vitamins) and IF the blood is still active due to being in the air tight container can I get HIV from swallowing it.
I hope you can help me to understand this, I really appreciate it. I don't think I would be concerned if it wasn't for the air tight component.
Thanks
S
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HIV is a fragile virus and is not in a viable state when exposed to the air. It is not transmitted through being on environmental objects such as utensils, tools, doorknobs, toilet seats, glasses, clothing or in this question of yours, on pills.
You are worrying needlessly and there's no sound cause for further concern.
Let it go and get on with your life.
And bear in mind the only confirmed risks for the sexual transmission of HIV are unprotected vaginal and anal intercourse. As long as condoms are always used properly for those activities you will be well protected.
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Thank you for your response, it is very helpful.
So you are saying that even though the pills were stored in an air tight container any virus (if present) in the blood would not remain active for more than a very short period of time i.e. minutes, in the container?
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Sally,
Exposure to air isn't the only factor here.
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, blood on pills is not going to infect you. If it even was blood, which I very much doubt.
You have NOT had a risk for hiv infection by any stretch of the imagination.
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 PILLS THAT YOU THINK MAY HAVE HAD BLOOD ON THEM, 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