Call me crazy - ice cream?

[icedream]

Hi Poz Forum,

Thanks for everything you guys do.

So, here's a crazy story, I just want to make sure that I have my facts straight.

I recently ate two store-bought ice cream bars, and before I ate them I noticed a small break in the packaging. I am worried of the possibility that someone may have injected HIV-infected blood or some other substance into the ice cream bar. I have a pretty significant cut in my mouth from a recent instance (1 day ago) when I bit my cheek quite hard.

I know that the risk is small that this tampering even occurred, but I want to be sure.

- Is it possible for HIV-infected substance to survive inside ice cream, or some other frozen food product? I know that HIV can be preserved in laboratory conditions by freezing.
- Is there anything I could look for to help me determine my risk?

I have a hunch I am having this anxiety for no good reason, but I wanted to check with the people who know best. I appreciate your time.

[Ptrk3]

You are correct:  your story is crazy and you are having anxiety for no good reason.

No, you can not get an HIV infection in this fashion.  The HIV is fragile and would never, ever survive being injected into ice cream.

Please peruse information through this link and educate yourself on the virus and how it is transmitted:

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics

You will note that eating ice cream that has been injected with the HIV is not a risk activity.

You may wish to consider professional help in dealing with your baseless anxiety.

[icedream]

Thanks for your reply. It alleviated my fears.

One followup, is it possible for HIV to be transmitted via chapstick?

I recently shared a tube of chapstick with someone who's lips were pretty badly chapped, and bleeding a little bit. Several minutes later, I used the chap stick on my lips which were not bleeding, but had an open sore from some skin I had bit off earlier in the day. Any risk?

[Jim Allen]

No risk.

HIV does not remain viable outside the human body, once HIV finds itself exposed outside the body, small changes in temperature, pH / moisture levels all quickly damage the virus and render it unable to infect.

This is because the outer protein/receptors that are needed to remain infectious corrodes in contact with the environment outside the human body.

Please don't ask about outside the human body contact risks again, there simply are none.

Jim

[icedream]

Thank you so much Jim...one single last question I promise - I am already scheduled to receive counseling for my fear of HIV but I just have one more situation in which I need assurance.

I purchased a new pair of shoes today, and when I got them home I unlaced and relaced them, when I put the string through the whole a bunch of the adhesive holding the shoe together came out, and it got on my hands. I washed my hands immediately.

The shoes were cheap, made in China. Is there any way that HIV could have survived in the no-air environment in the shoe adhesive?

[Jim Allen]

No, this is outside the human body and this has asked and answered.

If you could get HIV from shoes the entire planet would have been HIV positive already.  You are looking for risks where there are none and creating "what if" scenarios when there are none, its irrational HIV is not transmitted this way, HIV is fragile and very very limited in the routes of transmission. Everything else is just fear, fantasy or fiction. 

Good luck with the therapy and to help you and out of kindness to keep you engaged with your therapist if you post again about something asked and answered or no risk contact I will ban you from the forum.

Jim