Hiv Risk

[peoplearepeople]

Had a blood exposure on Feb 21st. Went to ER room, wasn't feeling well. When they admitted me to a room, there was blood on a stretcher bed that I sat on. My concern is touching that blood and rubbing my eye and mouth which I did with my hand. I wasn't aware of what I was doing because I was scared of the symptoms I was experiencing that led me to the ER. Took a blood test on the 30th of March. Negative. That would be 37 days out. 5 days before the 30th, I began hving night sweats and other symptoms. Was my risk a low risk? Should I test again now 7 weeks out? Could the symptoms and night sweats that started 5 days before the test mean that not enough antibodies were produced in time to be detectable for the test? Also, I wanted to ask if having covid or taking the vaccine would delay antibodies detection. Took the 1st shot Pfizer vaccine of Feb. 15th. Thank you.

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

What you posted isn't an HIV risk to you.

I know you have posted this elsewhere online and you were correctly informed it's not an HIV risk. I don't have anything to add.

Also, I wanted to ask if having covid or taking the vaccine would delay antibodies detection.

No, and as you had no exposure from the ER there was no need to test for HIV outside of standard yearly screening.

Here's what you need to know to avoid HIV infection:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms, and the only way of knowing is by testing.

Kind regards

Jim

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[peoplearepeople]

I posted this on MedHelp yesterday. My concern is around the words, no risk. I know what I saw which was blood and it wasn't just a spot of blood, not a puddle either. I also know that mucous membranes are in the eye and mouth. I also understand from reading your responses that hiv inactivates when exposed to air. But, this blood would have been from the patient before me in that room. We're not talking hours here and if enough blood was on my finger when I rubbed my eyes, could that be enough for infection? I think I remember some of your responses indicating 4 things needed to be present and one of them was quantity of fluid and I assume you meant outside the body, meaning if enough of fluid outside the body was there, and along with the other 3 components, infection could happen.

Would you also have information based on the questions of antibody development. Would the blood test detect enough  antibodies from feeling symptoms 5 days before the test? I can understand if the questions on covid infection and vaccines effect on test would be more difficult since not much research has probably been done on that.

Lastly, I'm trying to determine if I should test again since I wasn't quite at 6 weeks. Thoughts?

[Jim Allen]

Hiya.

I read your post fully here three times and I read it on the other forum.
It's not an HIV risk and, getting vaccinated doesn't impact the test results you already have.

Rubbing your eyes isn't how you aquire HIV.

We're not talking hours

Neither was I.

[Jim Allen]

Lastly, I'm trying to determine if I should test again since I wasn't quite at 6 weeks. Thoughts?

you had no exposure from the ER there was no need to test for HIV outside of standard yearly screening.

Relax and move on with your life. Don't share needles and use condoms for any intercourse, test for HIV and easier to aquire STIs yearly.

[peoplearepeople]

I'm trying to but I'm scared. One of the clinics in my city opens at 4 and I'm thinking about scheduling a rapid or blood test. I've posted on both forums and called a sexual health info line. Everyone says no risk. I get you can only go by studies and documented cases. But there are plenty of infected individuals who don't document their cases. Theoretical risk vs documented/reality risk. Way more people have  sex and do drugs than ppl who find themselves in the circumstance I did so there is more opportunity for infection to happen via sex and drugs. I just feel my theoretical risk can be more reality considering I saw the blood and rubbed my eye hard after touching the blood. That plus only testing 37 days out and symptoms, night sweats, itchiness, tingling hands and feet, sore finger joints, tingling in legs, thigh soreness, blurred vision...like I said I'm scared.

Take care

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

I've posted on both forums and called a sexual health info line. Everyone says no risk

Glad were all consistent.

documented cases. But there are plenty of infected individuals who don't document their cases.

No offence intended, but this is weak and called the "toilet seat risk" argument in some circles. I get that you are scared, but it is an irrational fear.

You didn't have a theoretical risk, and this isn't some novel virus. After 40 years, this is the single most studied virus ever, including that we know how fragile the virus is and the barriers to & conditions needed for it to transmit.

Your concern doesn't meet those conditions needed, and there are too many barriers for HIV to be any concern whatsoever. Stories don't even come into it, the weakest form of evidence.

That plus only testing 37 days out and symptoms, night sweats, itchiness, tingling hands and feet, sore finger joints, tingling in legs, thigh soreness, blurred vision...like I said I'm scared.

See your healthcare provider for treatment. Some of this would have nothing to do with initial HIV regardless of your status, and the rest that started five days before testing means you would have tested reactive already if related.

I can't recommend retesting as it would be a disservice to you and the community, and it's often just the start to a merry-go-round of testing over nothing.

Do wish you well and hope you feel better soon.