HIV Fear

[Karup]

Hi, thank you for activating my account. So want your expert opinion with details of you can on potential exposure scenario.described below.

Due to covid-19 I bought electric hair clipper set from Target online here in US. I kept the set unopened for 5 days to ensure any covid contamination is gone. Yesterday opened the box to be sure sprayed the blades with little alcohol 65% before use. The clipper was not powerful and struggled to cut my hair. During the process i I got 2-3 small cuts that bleed a little (specks).

I got worried if I have exposed myself to blood borne virus like HIV. I know Target store has a high rate item returns so started thinking what if the unit was not new and used before by someone.

3 specific questions

1. Have I exposed myself to HIV due to bleeding cuts in situation where they sent me used clipper set?
2. Do I need testing.
3. I have read any exposure to air will inactivate HIV, will it be true in this case as I did not open the box for 5 days and the.clipper has plactic wrap with protective guard on it's blade.

Thank you.

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

1 & 3

You had no HIV exposure from hair clippers.

Even if the hair clipper had been packed in a perfect vacuum (they were not) when you took it out of the box there would be exposure to the environment, not that it matters as this meets none of the other required conditions needed for acquiring including that cuts and scratches are not a route.


2)

No HIV risk from the hair clippers, no need to test over them. The question on testing depends if you have you been sexually active or injecting drugs?

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

Keep in mind that some sexual practices which may be described as ‘safe’ in terms of HIV transmission might still pose a risk for transmission of other STI's, so please do get fully tested regularly and at least yearly for all STI's including but not limited to HIV and test more frequently if unprotected 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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[Karup]

Thank you so much for rapid response, relieved. Just to confirm you also considered the possibility that the clipper target store sent me was used and repacked. I did not open it for 5 days and sprayed the blades with alcohol before use. Your assessment will still be the same of No risk and No testing? Hoping 5 days and alcohol spray will.be enough to inactivate the virus if any was present from previous use by someone else.

Also if you don't mind evaluating my risk with one more incidence. At home few weeks.back got.small piece under skin don't know what it was but was slightly hurting. I used a metal pin (heated it first) to poke and remove the piece. Did get a speck of blood from this incidence. Any hiv risk?

I am new to this forum but from bottom of my heart want to thank you for supporting all of us with questions. May god bless you.

Oh and I always practice safe sex with condoms

[Jim Allen]

Alcohol, repacking and 5 days are irrelevant. I could go off my meds, shave my own hair and pass it to you and there would still be no HIV risk.

At home few weeks.back got.small piece under skin don't know what it was but was slightly hurting. I used a metal pin (heated it first) to poke and remove the piece. Did get a speck of blood from this incidence. Any hiv risk?

No HIV risk to you, for the same reasons as provided for the hair clippers.

[Karup]

Hi

Thank you so much for you response on clipper incidence and the way you said it "go off my meds shave my head and give clipper to you still.nonrisk" was assuring. I am assuming no risk because it does not meet the 4 required conditions and air was involved.

I do have one more embarrassing incidence need your advice. I suffer from hemaroids that bleed sometimes when I use bathroom as I can see red blood steaks on tissue. The other day I used bathroom in lowes (store in US). The tissue I used to wipe was on floor not on handle. I did not check if the tissue had any dirt or maybe bodily fluids.

The question I have is what is my risk knowing I have slightly bleeding hemaroids and if the tissue was contaminated.

Thank you again.

[Jim Allen]

You're welcome.

I am assuming no risk because it does not meet the 4 required conditions and air was involved.

Correct

The tissue I used to wipe was on floor not on handle. I did not check if the tissue had any dirt or maybe bodily fluids.

The question I have is what is my risk knowing I have slightly bleeding hemaroids and if the tissue was contaminated.

No HIV risk whatsoever. Pretty much same reason as the other concern, exposure to the environment and this doesn't meet all the conditions required.

Look your adult HIV risks and ways to reduce that risk are:

Sex - Use condoms and consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of HIV prevention

Using IV drugs - Don't share needles and syringes, use new ones

Blood transfusions & transplants - Extremely unlikely nowadays considering blood products are screened.

Jim