[Question #12470] Seeking information

7 months ago

Hello doctor,

Do the following situations present any STD risk or warrant any testing:

- Someone kisses me on the back of the neck

- I drink from a cup that someone else has already used

I am mainly asking this for reassurance

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

7 months ago

Welcome back to the forum.

These both are zero risk events in regard to HIV and all STDs. In theory, if your oral contact person -- the kisser or the other cup user -- had an active case of oral herpes, there might be small risk. However, part of my reply to your distant past question (2 ½ years ago) was that herpes, HPV, etc must be rubbed into the tissues for infection to take hold. The brief fleeting contacts described here almost never transmit HSV. And for sure no risk for any other STD (HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, etc) even if the other person had an active oral infection. (These are called "sexually transmitted" for good reason: nonsexual exposure is always little or no risk.)

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear. Happy new year!

HHH, MD

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7 months ago

Thank you doctor. And if I understand right, it is the same regardless of the presence of any blood or wounds (I did not see any) and I can safely move on on without worry?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

7 months ago

Yes, the presence of blood would not change my assessment or advice. You definitely can move on without worry. Nobody has ever acquired any STD, including HIV, by the sorts of contact you describe. They're called "sexually transmitted" for good reason!---
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6 months ago

Thank you, I understand these events do not require testing for any logical reason.

But I have a question regarding tests: is the conclusive window period for antibody/antigen HIV tests 6 weeks?

Some places say 3 months, but is that based on outdated information?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

6 months ago

Six weeks indeed is conclusive for the HIV AgAb (4th generation) blood tests. (Officially 45 days, but we and many other expert sources round it off to 6 weeks.) Three months is for the third generation antibody-only tests; that's never been the advised interval for the AgAb tests. However, some individual physicians or clinics might say 3 months, regardless of the standard interval recommended by CDC and most other expert agencies.

I'll stress again that you don't need testing on account of the kinds of exposure described -- although of course I understand that some people are more reassured by negative test results than by professional opinion, no matter how expert. (We don't take it personally!)

That concludes the two follow-up exchanges included with each question and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been useful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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