Scarleteen Holidays: Our direct services, including these message boards will be closed Christmas Day (12/25), 1st day of Hanukkah (12/26), and New Year’s Day (1/1).

Is this possible?

Any questions or discussions that you ONLY want to discuss with our staff or volunteers.
(Users: please do not reply to other users here.)
Hypochondriac17
not a newbie
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:05 pm
Age: 26
Location: India

Is this possible?

Unread post by Hypochondriac17 »

Hi, I have a question regarding a possible method of HIV transmission.
I know that HIV can be transmitted by sharing of infected needles or sharp objects, but is that possible in my case? I'm sorry if my worries sound stupid.
I was playing cricket out in a park the other day. There's an old deserted warehouse next to the park. There's a construction site nearby, so currently many workers from there often come to the warehouse for having food, changing clothes, etc. Most of these workers are illegal immigrants living in below poverty line conditions.
While we were playing, a friend hit the ball far into the warehouse, and I went to retrieve it. The warehouse was empty at the time. I was searching for the ball, and I felt a pricking sensation on my feet. I was barefoot, and I checked and saw that a needle/hairpin like object was pricking me. I had less than a drop of blood, but the pin had a very very tiny amount of DRY blood on it.
We didn't see anyone entering/leaving the warehouse for at least 15 minutes before I went in. Its possible that the needle was lying there for quite some time, but if we were to consider that the dry blood on the needle was infected and the needle was disposed off there recently, as in 20-30 mins before, is there any risk of HIV transmission from this?
Sam W
previous staff/volunteer
Posts: 10320
Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:06 am
Age: 33
Awesomeness Quotient: I raise carnivorous plants
Primary language: english
Pronouns: she/her
Sexual identity: queer
Location: Coast

Re: Is this possible?

Unread post by Sam W »

Hi hypochondriac,

No, that scenario does not pose a risk of HIV transmission.

Have you made any progress in finding a mental healthcare professional to talk with?
And you to whom adversity has dealt the final blow/with smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go/turn to and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain/and like the Mary Ellen Carter rise again.
Hypochondriac17
not a newbie
Posts: 70
Joined: Fri Oct 31, 2014 10:05 pm
Age: 26
Location: India

Re: Is this possible?

Unread post by Hypochondriac17 »

Okay, so even though I bled a little on being pricked, the virus cannot survive on any infected object for 15 minutes, can it? Thank you!

I haven't within my town, but the good news is, I got accepted to med school. That means that I'm gonna have to move out of town soon, and hence I'll have access to such services, either in med school itself or within that city. Frankly speaking, I think I've been stressed all this time simply because I was worried about my results, and that has affected my pregnancy scares too.
Heather
scarleteen founder & director
Posts: 9732
Joined: Sun Jul 27, 2014 11:43 am
Age: 54
Awesomeness Quotient: I have been a sex educator for over 25 years!
Primary language: english
Pronouns: they/them
Sexual identity: queery-queer-queer
Location: Chicago

Re: Is this possible?

Unread post by Heather »

In order to contract HIV, you would have to be exposed -- and in places like your mouth, genitals or an open wound -- DIRECTLY to someone else's blood. HIV cannot live on objects or be transmitted that way. It's also most likely the blood you saw was your own: tiny bits of blood dry very quickly.

Kudos on getting into medical school, by the way! :)
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic