Risk assessment

[pzing222]

Hello
This might sound unusual but i was worried so i thought i should get clarified.
I was having chocolate ice cream in new york city and  while licking it , noticed something like streak of blood in it .
What if it there were someone's blood in it like ice cream vendors or someone purposely trying to put infected blood in it ?
Is there any risk or need of testing for hiv ? am i safe ?
Thank you

[Ann]

Pzing,

You absolutely did NOT have a risk for hiv infection - even if it was blood. But really, blood? Purposely put in ice-cream? Get real.

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.

Small changes in temperature, and pH and moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect. For this reason, you are never going to become infected with hiv from blood in food or beverages.

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 BLOODY ICE-CREAM, 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

[pzing222]

Hi
Thanks Ann
That cools me off. Yes i think it was blood, i mean it just seemed like blood. Purposely put or not, i have no idea.
I had some info on matter that HIV dies outside of body but what is worrying me is that ice-cream is frozen and they viruses can survive in frozen environment.
Is there absolutely no need for getting tested for this incident ?

[jkinatl2]

Hi
Thanks Ann
That cools me off. Yes i think it was blood, i mean it just seemed like blood. Purposely put or not, i have no idea.
I had some info on matter that HIV dies outside of body but what is worrying me is that ice-cream is frozen and they viruses can survive in frozen environment.
Is there absolutely no need for getting tested for this incident ?

HIV cannot remain intact outside the human body. Not in ice cream and not on the floor.

You have to realize how profoundly offensive this question was in 1994, let alone 2013.

Viruses are not created equal. Influenza is a virus. It is spread through sneezing. Is HIB spread through sneezing?

Herpes can be spread through skin to skin contact. Can HIV?

Mono can be spread through saliva. Can HIV?

The answer is NO. And it has been NO for over 20 years.

You have been on this site long enough to  access our LESSONS sections, which spell out the limited ways that HIV is transmitted.

Your seeming ignorance of viruses in general is very sad. But one virus you have the chance to learn about is HIV. And not be asking dozens of questions about how it is NOT transmitted - but rather by learning about the very specific ways that HIV is transmitted.

1. Unprotected anal and/or vaginal intercourse

2. sharing IV drug needles

3. rarely, mother to child during childbirth or while breastfeeding

4. even more rare, blood transfusions in remote and undeveloped nations.

I honestly hope you choose to respond. The donation necessary to ask more questions will help us support those with legitimate issues and rational questions.

[pzing222]

Thanks for ur reply ... I know HIV cant survive outside body for long ... But i got worried because of this incident as there was not much time elapsed between i got the ice cream from vendor and me licking on it.
Anyways if i guess you guys are much more experienced than me and I should believe you and move on .. Hope all stays well !!