I read your recent discussion with Dr. Hook. I'll start with a general observation that probably you already know: With OCD and/or GAD, factual information about low chance of a bad outcome (whether it's HIV, other health problems, or accidents) doesn't usually settle things. Factual information about risk can be helpful, but the underlying mental health issue usually fosters additional "yes but", "what if", or "could I be the exception" concerns. I would put these questions in that category, wouldn't you? Of course I will answer these questions. But in the interest of both your sanity and forum priorities, let's make this your last new question until and unless there is an entirely new issue, definite high risk exposure, etc.

Nobody in the world has been known to catch HIV from having blood drawn. Perhaps a few exceptions occurred 30+ years ago, when some medical facilities in developing countries still re-used injection or blood drawing needles without proper sterilization. However, for sure it has never occurred in the US. Also, you have to agree it's a bit irrational to suspect you could have been pricked by a used needle, which happened to be contaminated with HIV infected blood, without even knowing about the injury. And even your "worst case scenario" is absolutely zero risk for HIV. No chance, no way. For sure you should never hesitate to go to any clinic, whether or not they specialize in HIV testing, in the future.

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

Best regards--  HHH, MD

Thanks so much for your prompt reply!  As you may have noticed from my previous thread, I'm seeing a mental health professional and already noticing significant improvement. My going to the clinic was part of my behavior plan (testing) but given dr. Hooks comments I was nervous.

Thanks for your answer. I wanted to be clear about your answer to my second question about the discoloration on my figers -- fingers in used to hold the bandage down after blood draw. E.g. if the discoloration on my fingers were blood contaminated with hiv, still no risk via my fingers getting any blood into the wound created by the blood draw.

Thanks again for all your help. And I understood your comments about ocd and can recognize them in myself. I just wanted to let you know that grappling with uncertainty is part of my mental health treatment and dr. Hooks previous advice on potential needle pokes in the environment has made a huge difference in my life (with very very few what if questions popping up). I don't want you to think your expert opinion will fall upon deaf ears.

I was hoping that when you wrote no no questions you meant no new question thread and that you'd still be willing to answer the follow up question I wrote yesterday. I asked:

I wanted to be clear about your answer to my second question about the discoloration on my fingers -- fingers I used to hold the bandage down after blood draw. Am I right that even if the discoloration on my fingers were blood contaminated with hiv, I still would be at no risk via my fingers getting  blood into the wound created by the blood draw.

From what I understand, the reasons for this are that my exposure to blood in this way would be 1. too indirect 2. the blood would have been exposed to air and temperatures 3. even a hole from a blood draw would be very small and not a place for HIV to realistically enter and 4.  even if there was a risk it would be far less than the 1 in 300 for a needle stick.

I know this is my last follow up. Thanks so much for your expertise and time.

Thanks

The only wounds ever known to result in HIV acquistion were those made in the presence of HIV infected blood, e.g. scalpel wound by a surgeon operating on an HIV infected patients. While in theory existing wounds might be a source of infection if exposed, as far as we know, such cases have not been reported. Most likely blood clotting and other components of would healing form an effective barrier from HIV susceptible cells and tissues. So if there is risk, it is trivally low and should be ignored.

That's going to complete this thread, which will have to be your last on the forum on this or similar topics. Here is our standard notice along these lines:

Please note that the forum does not permit repeated questions on the same topic or exposure, especially when the questions are obviously driven by anxiety or when there is apparently difficulty in believing or accepting advice already given. This will have to be your last one; future questions on this topic or about this exposure will be deleted without reply and without refund of the posting fee. This policy is based on compassion, not criticism, and is designed to reduce the temptation to keep paying for questions with obvious answers; because experience shows that continued answers tend to prolong users’ anxieties, when professional counseling often would be a better approach; and because repeat or anxiety driven questions have little educational value for other users, one of the forum’s main purposes. Thank you for your understanding.