Dr. Handsfield,

Thankyou very much again for your last response to Q #4132, I fully understand your response that HTLV is outside STD doctors’ normal expertise.

Since then I also saw some of your older Medhelp responses on Hep B and Hep C (HBV & HCV), where you said as these were bloodborne they were outside your main expertise, and you did not keep up to date with current literature. These were from a few years ago though.

So I’m just a bit worried now as I had much reassurance from yourself and Dr. Hook’s detailed responses on bloodborne/non-sexual transmission risk for HBV/HCV/HIV in Q #4071 (and Q #4101). Therefore I just wanted to check:

1 - Given yourself and Dr. Hook’s detailed responses to the previous questions #4071 & #4101 - would I be right in assuming that although HBV/HCV are not your/Dr. Hook’s primary focus, I can still rely on yourself & Dr. Hook’s previous responses as expert advice on HBV & HCV transmission/risks? Including non-sexual/bloodborne risks as previously discussed in #4071 & #4101?

2 - Also I would be right in assuming the advice that was given is up-to-date with current medical literature etc?

3 - I’m correct to assume the above applies to bloodborne/non-sexual transmission for HIV/syphillis/HSV 1 & 2/and any other STDs?

Sorry for the follow-up Dr - would please like to confirm, following your last response. Thank you so much again.