Possible exposure need test?
ast week I had an individual who was at a stoplight asking for money, I rolled my window down to hand him some singles. As he approached, he had some liquid in a bottle that some spilled out and landed on me and in my car, it wasn’t intentional to my knowledge. Now I’m paranoid this was an hiv risk. I had long sleeves on and didn’t feel anything hit me but I’m not too sure. I didn’t wipe the liquid until until i got home about 20 minutes later to use disinfectant wipes. Am I being irrational about this being a risk that would warrant testing?
Hi
. It is clear that you are concerned and have questions about exposure risk, so it is good that you have reached out. I want to share with you this article how HIV is transmitted: https://h-i-v.net/transmission. In particular, I want to call your attention to the section on ways that HIV is not transmitted. I also want to share with you this article on differences in transmission risk: https://h-i-v.net/transmission-risks. You can see that even activities that carry a higher risk have a rather low risk from an individual incident. I hope this information is helpful. Of course, the only way to be completely sure of HIV status, if you want to put your mind completely at ease, is through testing and this article covers the different tests and their window periods: https://h-i-v.net/test-types. Wishing you the best. Richard (Team Member) Thanks for the response. If I have read and am understanding correctly would this be considered a no risk or low risk situation. My fear is touching this liquid and the fact I did not wipe it away immediately from my car. It was clear so doesn’t appear to have blood that I could visibly see. I took a rapid oral test but that was only 10 days after this incident. I just want to know if hiv has possibly been transmitted in this manner.
Hi
. Being that we are not medical professionals, we cannot comment on risk for specific incidents, but I do think the articles on transmission and risk lay out a pretty good picture of risk. You are correct that at 10 days the window for a rapid test in not open. As noted in the article on test types, the window for the nucleic acid test is beginning to open, but these are expensive and not typically used for routine screening. Best, Richard (Team Member)
Essentially you are saying at this point anyone that comes into contact with anyone should be tested for hiv. I asked a simple question regarding a risk with it being water spilled and you said get tested. People may as well just live in a bubble if you are saying get tested over a day to day event. i don’t know what picture of risk you are claiming here, saying to go read an article.
hi there, I worry you didn't get a chance to read the material Richards sent, so want to provide you the information in those articles. First, we'll say there is a great deal of misinformation out there about how HIV is transmitted. It could make it seem like any contact with someone living with HIV can threaten your health, and this is not the case. (And I know you can imagine, is a misconception that can be harmful to those living with HIV)
The articles outline that HIV can only be transmitted through blood, semen, precum, breast milk, or vaginal secretions coming in contact with a membrane (like a break in your skin, inside lining of the vagina, anus, penis, mouth, eyes, and nose). It is not transmitted through water, through food, saliva, sweat, and it cannot live outside body, the exception being inside of a needle. Like Richard said, we don't give medical advice but can give you information you'll see here and in his comments.
I'll add to your list of articles this one that addresses water specifically, as well as the negative messages about HIV, to be sure you have information you can count on - HIV Myths and Misconceptions - https://h-i-v.net/?p=134
- Liz (Team Member)
I appreciate both of your input, but where I feel there may be some confusion is when a break in the skin is mentioned as a potential risk. It makes it appear having a scrape or so on your hand and then touching fluids can then be determined as a risk. It seems like saying testing is needed based on coming in contact with unidentified elements may be a misuse of resources? Which then going back to my initial question seems to me that the poster suggested needing a test for coming in contact with a liquid.
I understand there is some confusion here - we cannot tell you to get tested or not. Only a medical professional who sits down with you can assess your risk.
That being said, we directed you to clinical articles that say, 1) HIV does not live on surfaces outside the body, 2) HIV does not travel through water, 3) HIV transmission is frequently misunderstood. If you continue to be concerned for any reason after reading the articles on the site, you should get tested. It is actually recommended that HIV testing should be part of everyone's regular health care.
- Liz (Team Member)
