[Question #13197] HIV
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1 months ago
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Hello. I recently got a tattoo and I'm a little paranoid because I didn't see the guy who did the tattoo take a new needle out of the pack. I called him afterwards and he said that he used a new needle. My question is what are my chances of contracting HIV in the event that he didn't use a new needle. I know he had a client about an hour before I got there. Would that be enough time for hiv to die on the needle?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
1 months ago
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Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your questions. Licensed tattoo parlors are strictly regulated and reusing needles is not permitted. My advice is to be confident that he used a new needle.
Hypothetically, if a hollow point needle was used following use on an untreated, HIV positive person the chances of infection would be less than one percent. The odds that the needle was reused, that the client prior to you had untreated HIV, and that you acquired HIV from the procedure is vanishing rare. My advice is to take the tattoo artist at his word and move forward without concern.EWH
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1 months ago
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If the person at the place before me had hiv and was on treatment would that reduce the risk even further?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
1 months ago
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When treatment for HIV is effective, there is no detectable virus in the blood or secretions. As a result, persons on effective treatment for HIV do not transmit their infections.
You have one follow up remaining. EWH
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1 months ago
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This is my last question I guess. Do you think that I should seek hiv testing based on the initial question that I asked?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
1 months ago
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Final response.
Testing is always a personal choice. I see no scientific reason for testing but if it would be reassuring, there is no reason not to. Results of a 4th generation, combination HIV antigen/antibody test will be conclusive at 6 weeks. A HIV RNA PCR test would be conclusive any time after 11 days.
Please don’t worry. Closing the thread now. EWH
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