[Question #4839] Hiv on bottle (not much oxygen)
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79 months ago
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Hello. You have a great site! I am sorry it may sound like a dumb question. I am pregnant, so I guess it is hormones. I bought vitamins in store the other day. The bottle had a protective seal on it, the one which is glued to the top of the bottle (over the hole). I lifted it up, took a couple of vitamins, and then saw some red mark , which looked like a drop of blood (smudged) . I am not sure, of course, if it was blood. But if it was, considering tablets touched it when I took it out, and the smudge was "sealed in" between the bottle and the seal itself, (so not much oxygen) would there be a risk of me getting HIV if it was blood and it was from a positive person? I am very worried. I opened the bottle around 4 months after it was manufactured. Would HIV survive this long even if it was sealed not much oxygen was touching it. Do I need to test? I just tested for my pregnancy check. Everything was clear. Is this something I need to worry about? Thank you
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
79 months ago
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Welcome to the Forum. I don't think your question is dumb and I'm delighted that I can confidently give you an answer- even if the material under the seal was blood, there is absolutely NO risk for HIV or other blood born infections (like hepatitis) from your possible exposure. Why do I say this and how can I be confident?- because we know that HIV is a fragile virus that would not survive even minutes, much less months or weeks on the surface of an inanimate object at room temperature. Thus:
1. IF that material was blood (you do not know that it was).
2. And if the blood was from someone with HIV or another infection (another rare event)
3. The virus would not be infectious to you.
No one has ever been infected through this sort of contact, no matter how fresh the blood might have been. I do understand that, particularly when you are pregnant and concerned for the health of your unborn child, that it is usual to worry about such risks and exposures. Its my pleasure to tell you that there is no reason for concern related to the vents you describe. No need for testing either.
Take care. EWH
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79 months ago
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Thank you :)