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Getting HIV from testing facility

I went in for an HIV test. The tester pricked my finger, then picked up a cotton ball from the desk and wiped my finger. The cotton ball was on the surface of the desk not on a paper towel or anything.

1. I was the first one in after lunch so no one was there for at least an hour before me.

2. I called the clinic they said that protocol is to disinfect the facility at lunch and cob.

3. there was only one other test that day and the clinic said they were negative

4. They couldn't remember if they were before or after me.

5. The tester said yes she didn't put a towel done but she puts the cotton blood side up so nothing was in the table.

6. The clinic said there is no need to retest.

Please this ended my nightmare as this test was conclusive. Could I have gotten HIV from the cotton ball on the desk, if there was blood there and the cotton ball picked it up and then got in the hole from the lancet where the blood was drawn. Do I need to be retested.
2 Responses
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Avatar universal
Your risk has been assessed as NONE and there is nothing more to say. It's time for you to move along.
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1 Comments
thanks
Avatar universal
It's not possible to get HIV from touching any surface or intimate object. HIV can only infect inside the body such as through unprotected sex or by sharing drug needles with HIV infected users.

Your test was negative and therefore you're completely fine and should not waste any more time worrying about it.
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6 Comments
So this wouldn't be an environment al exposure, if there was HIV Contaminated blood on the table it couldn't transfer to the cotton ball and then got in my wound from the finger stick?
Lol,no. It doesn't work that way. HIV is an extremely fragile virus and is not able to infect outside the body nor can it jump from non living object to object.

You're totally fine and need to stop worrying. Nothing more to say.
sader, if it was as contagious as you fear then people would be getting it from infected waiters who cut themselves then touched your food in restaurants all over the country.
I appreciate your comments, thank you for your advice. I am a little anxious because I had a conclusive test (which ended my anxiety) and this piped it up again. But I am not nearly as worried thanks to your comments. thank you
A couple of things between your responses and my research.

1. HIV infected blood could not get in the cotton from the desk as both the desk and the cotton ball are environmentall surfaces, and HIV can't transmit from an environmental surface much less two.

2. The HIV would be dead in minutes so the hour between testing would be more than sufficient

3. The needle prick is too superficial and small to allow HIV in
I guess my question is is my assessment above correct; even if the cotton ball was put directly on fresh blood
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