Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

blood on tools in piercing hiv exposure

My step daughter and I went to get a piercing done together and after she finished mine the piercer notice the 2 top pieces were switched on us. The top pieces would screw in to the piece already in your nose. She did disinfect the pieces she switched on us but I did not see her switch tools. I do not know my step daughters hiv status so I am worried some blood might have come in contact with my piercing. There was probably a minute or 2 between switching.  I know some sites say hiv lives for several hours or some say minutes.  
4 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Why if you look online does it say open wound to open wound there is a small chance? The aids association says that to.  I am sure you guys are getting your answers from reliable sources but a lot of the internet says different. Was there any cases like that ever? I just wanted to make sure.  Sorry to take your time again.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I'm giving you the answer supported by doctors affiliated with this site.  You are not seeing anything proven to really have happened on the internet.  Because if it did, it would be big news. People sometimes mention theoretical risk but that is not true risk.  This is most likely the reason for the discrepancy. But we aren't talking about a stranger here. We are talking about a family member of yours.  She doesn't have HIV.

If you had unprotected sex, your chance of HIV from a one time exposure is around 1 percent.  That's from sex!  You are worried about a piercing.  Already explained how air inactivates the virus.  That you are really hyper focused on this event makes me wonder if you don't have a little anxiety. Which I get, I do too.  But that can be made better with the first step being to recognize it is at play.  
20620809 tn?1504362969
I understand and you are right.  Really a lot of misinformation and a subject that people are afraid to talk about for some reason.  HIV is hard to transmit.  Much more so than people seem to think.  I would imagine if your step daughter had a chronic condition like hiv, it would be shared with her dad.  But in general, you had no risk from this even if she was keeping a secret like that.  No worries!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you so much!!!  I think A lot of people are misinformed on hiv. There is so much to read on the internet. My step daughter does not live with us and I do know she is sexually active so that made me worry.
Helpful - 0
20620809 tn?1504362969
I'm guessing your step daughter is not hiv positive.  You're in the same family, married to her father?  This would have come up.  You are close enough to be out together getting piercings so this would have been revealed at some point.  But even still, this would not be a risk.  Air inactivates the virus.  Touching fresh or dried blood is not a risk for HIV.  The only way that people get HIV is from unprotected vaginal or anal sex or sharing IV drug needles.  Drug needles are not like a needle poke.  They have a plunger that goes up and down like an injection.  Vacuum sealed.  So, just sticking yourself is not a way that people get HIV.  So, no worries.  We get our information from the guru of Hiv, Hansfield.  He's made his life work dealing with HIV and is a world wide expert.  So, you had no risk at all even in the very off chance she has HIV.  
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community

Top HIV Answerers
366749 tn?1544695265
Karachi, Pakistan
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.