[Question #4717] A REQUEST FOR DOCTOR HOOK PLEASE, PLEASE.

80 months ago

Hello Doctors,

First of all let me say that I’m aware of the rules that users may not elect the moderator who will answer the question. Nevertheless, I’m desperately asking for a special request today that I will be eternally grateful for. I have been a member at Medhelp and I used to direct my questions at Dr Hook, and since then, Dr Hook has been the only one in the whole wide world who can reassure me about my situation (even though I know that Dr. handsfield and Dr Hook share similar views). I am far from being affluent, so I literally spent two days trying to find someone who can lend me their credit card. I would really be forever grateful if you let Dr.Hook answer my question (I read that he is travelling) so even if you left my question for a day or two I would not mind it. Please Dr.handsfield, if you are reading this, I would politely ask you to ask Doctor Hook to answer this question--it will be the greatest act of kindness I received this year and it will spare me immense agony and suffering. And I don’t mean to offend you--I am sorry if I did-- but Dr. Hook has been my main source of reassurance for many years sir. All the respect for both of you. Please know I am willing to wait for days until Dr Hook’s answer. Again, I will be forever thankful for this.

Thank you so very much sir,

Edward W. Hook M.D.

80 months ago

As a matter of luck, and nothing else, I happened to pick up your question and will be answering it. I note that there is no question above and that you have inserted a question on another client's thread. THIS IS NOT PERMITTED!!!. As I trust you know, we provide up to three responses to each client's question. This is my first response- please ask your question and use the space you have wisely while observing our word limits. There are two responses remaining. EWH---

80 months ago

I'm terribly sorry for posting on another person's thread sir. I'm ecstatic that you picked up my question. I used to ask you questions on medhelp and now I'm here after a year of no anxiety about HIV.

I had a blood drawn for vitamin D and other things. But the problem is, the clinic was not clean at all (I live in a poor neighborhood). I am afraid that the there was blood on the nurse’s gloves (that could possibly had been transferred to the butterfly needle), or the gauze, or the band aid. The time between me and the previous patient was approximately one minute and 30 seconds, so my questions are as follow: Please answer number 1 with some details if you may.

Is one minute and thirty seconds sufficient for the potential HIV blood on the gloves, the gauze, or the band aid to become non-infectious? It was room temperature if that helps. And of course if there were blood it was only dots of blood--not saturated with blood.

2. Can I resume my sex life without worrying about infecting my girlfriend?

80 months ago

And btw I did a bit of research on this form and I saw that you told someone that a semen on a toilet seat becomes non-infectious in less than 30 seconds. Is it the same for my case (blood on gauze, bandaid, or gloves.)

80 months ago

To clarify, I am worried about the possibility of the presence of HIV blood in/on the gauze, the band aid, or the gloves (that could transfer to the needle).

Many thanks for the great service!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

80 months ago

By the way, thanks for your confidence in our advice and assessments.

Straight to your questions, suspecting that what you are about to read is quite similar to responses we have each made to many other clients. There are NO cases of HIV which have been transmitted to others through contract with a contaminated glove, gauze, band-aids, etc. None, anywhere. The reason for this is complex and there are many contributors, among the most important of which is that HIV is very sensitive to the effects of drying, exposure to air, and exposure to room temperature such that it becomes non-infectious virtually immediately upon contact with the environment outside of the body. In addition to this, the virus would likely "stick" to any fibers present on a band-aid or piece of cause.

Is one minute and thirty seconds sufficient for the potential HIV blood on the gloves, the gauze, or the band aid to become non-infectious? It was room temperature if that helps. And of course if there were blood it was only dots of blood--not saturated with blood.

Yes 1 minute, 30 seconds is plenty of time for the virus to become non-infectious, if it was even there.

2. Can I resume my sex life without worrying about infecting my girlfriend? Ye, nothing you have describe suggests there is any need to abstain from unprotected sex with your GF related to the event you describe. In addition, there is no need for testing. EWH

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80 months ago

Thanks for the response Doctor! You bring relief to my heart, always!

a clarification:

you said "Yes 1 minute, 30 seconds is plenty of time for the virus to become non-infectious, if it was even there." Does that include all four: gloves, band aid, or gauze, or even if small drops of blood on the tray?

Thanks doctor! you are the greatest!

80 months ago

What I mean is if there was blood on a gauze, band aid, gloves, or drops of blood on a tray, is a minute and thirty seconds sufficient for the virus to become non-infectious. Again, you are the best!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

80 months ago

Yes, no matter what infected blood was on, 1 minute and 30 seconds is plenty of time for the virus to become non-infectious. You really have nothing to worry about.

As you know this will be my final reply to your questions, the thread will be closed shortly without further response. Take care. Please do not worry. EWH

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80 months ago

Doctor Hook Please this will be the last question I SWEAR, please answer.

is 30 seconds sufficient for the virus to become non-infectious on the gloves, tray, bandaid, or a gauze?

Please, yes or no.

80 months ago

Or IS 20 seconds suffiecient for the virus to become non-infectious??. I swear this is the last question. I WILL APPRECIATE IT FOREVER!!

80 months ago

Dear Doctor Hook, please know I will be forever grateful: is 20 seconds sufficient for the virus to become non-infectious on a glove?

Please answer me and I will be eternally grateful! Thanks so very much!!

Edward W. Hook M.D.

80 months ago

I have no interest in how little time it takes for exposures of the sort you describe to become non-infectious because no one has EVER become infected through the sort of exposure you have described. Part of that is because the virus becomes infectious so very quickly after exposure to the environment. thus playing the game of "home many seconds does the virus lives" serves no purpose. End of thread. EWH---