Rectal Swab

[Wilson3087]

Question so 2 days ago I went to the dr and was given a rectal swab to do myself and I noticed that the swab not the Cotten end (which was sealed ) but the other end which is where you hold it had a little blood. I didn’t think anything of it cause the nurse gave it to me and showed me how to use it and had gloves on and had just drawn my blood and I assumed it was my blood. When I got in my car I thought about it. What if it wasn’t my blood like if she discarded the syringe in the bio bin and got some blood and it was contaminated with hiv would this been an exposure?  I had to stick the swab up my rectum.

[Sara_MHModerator]

Your question was fully answered that this was no risk .

***  thread closed ***

[Wilson3087]

Last reply the fact that I stuck the Swab  in my rectum that doesn’t change anything? even with blood since the rectum is the easiest way to get it?

[Wilson3087]

Would it have matter if the blood went in my rectum? It was my blood im sure that was on the swab handle but I just though I should ask incase since inside the rectum it’s a mucous membrane and that’s how hiv is transmitted.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Your situation involves personal contact with an object in air  (hands, maybe saliva, maybe blood etc.). You will be happy to learn that you had no risk, because you can't get hiv from personal contact except unprotected penetrating vaginal or anal, neither of which you did and you didn't share hollow needles to inject with which is the only other way to acquire hiv - there are only 3 ways to get hiv. Analysis of large numbers of infected people over the 40 years of hiv history has proven that people don't get hiv in the way you are worried is a risk.
HIV is a fragile virus in air or saliva and is effectively instantly dead in either air or saliva so the WORST that could happen is dead virus rubbed you, and obviously anything which is dead cannot live again so you are good. Blood and cuts would not be relevant in your situation since the hiv has become effectively dead, so you don't have to worry about them to be sure that you are safe.
There is no reason for a person to test when they are safe. The advice took into consideration that the other person might be positive, so move on and enjoy life instead of thinking about this non-event. hiv prevention is straightforward since there are only 3 ways you can become infected, so next time you wonder if you had a risk, ask yourself this QUESTION. "Did I do any of the 3?" Then after you say "No, I didn't" you will know that it's time to move on back to your happy life.
No one got hiv from what you did during 40 years of hiv history and no one will get it in the next 40 years of your life either. You can do what you did any time and be safe.
hiv prevention is straightforward since there is just one non sexual way to get it and you did not use a hollow needle for the rectal swab so should move on from any more what-if questions.

[GuitarRox]

As stated, this would not be a risk in worst case scenario and it sounds like a possible anxious moment you were having.  You will never get HIV from a cotton ball whether your blood or someone else's blood is on it.  The ways you get HIV are stated above.  You can't touch an item and get HIV.  This is no risk.

[CurfewX]

You CANNOT get HIV from any object, even if it has blood on it.  

Do not have unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse with someone of unknown HIV status, and do not share intravenous needles with other people, and you will NEVER have to worry about HIV.