Dear Dr, Please evaluate my HIV risk with following incidences

1. I was invited to barbeque party at friend’s house; he has a very bad habit of biting his fingernails. He prepared food without wearing any gloves, what are my chances of HIV if he was bleeding from his fingers and some of the blood got on to my food? I have to note that while eating food at his house I did bite my tongue (which bled slightly in my mouth) does this make a difference in risk for HIV if his blood was on the food?

2. My daughter picked up amazon packages yesterday from our garage, I usually wipe the package before bring them in the house due to covid, but yesterday they just opened the package without having me wipe it first and then without washing hands they started eating food. If there was any blood contamination on package (I did not see) what are chances of HIV infection from transfer of infectious material from hands of delivery person to package, from package to my daughters hands and then to her mouth while eating this all happened in few minutes (10-15 mins)?

3. We ordered some take out from Chipotle, while removing the food from the package I got scratched by the plastic fork which was in the package. I did see 2 small inflamed areas on my fingers and it did sting when I applied alcohol. It was alteast 30 mins from when the package was picked up at chipotle to fork scratching me at home. If someone at chipotle had scratched or poked on the same fork and had their blood on it and then it scratched me after 30 mins am I at risk?

4. I was inspecting a tiny red spot on the chipotle package it got lose and may have got into my eyes or nose (I am not sure though) as it was windy outside, if it did and if it was dried blood is there any risk? Note this happened after 24 hrs since I looked at the package next day.

5. I know HIV virus is fragile and becomes non-infectious almost immediately outside body before it dies, are we talking about 5-10 mins or just few secs for HIV to be non-infectious in few drops of blood exposed outside the body? It will be good to get some time sense for future reference.

6. Are bleeding scratches, pokes, punctures one sustains in environment (not medical setting) from inanimate solid objects like nails, wire, glass, papercuts etc pose any meaningful risk? Should I just ignore these or is there a legitimate reason to be worried? 

Should I be worried about any of these events? Do you recommend testing? Can I have unprotected sex with my wife (we are in monogamous relationship for 18 years)? 

Dear Dr Edward,

Thank you, I needed confirmation of NO RISK from an ID specialist like you before focusing on root cause which seems to be anxiety in my case. Just few follow-ups if you don't mind

1. The fork incidence really freaked me out as this Chipotle is very busy place, so just to confirm one more time, if fork had scratched someone lets say with HIV at chipotle to draw some blood and then after 30 mins it scratched me that resulted in slight bleeding this is still considered as NO RISK?

2. Can you comment on my possible eye/nose exposure (not just touching the spot) with potential dried blood  after few hours, my questions #4?

3. I know its probably hard to answer this questions but in your previous responses to others u had said HIV becomes non infectious in matter of secs before it dies, can you confirm we are taking secs or few mins and not hours/days for HIV to die and be noninfectious?

3. Should I Continue having unprotected sex with my wife

4. I know you had NO TESTING is needed as these were NO RISK events but sometimes to get out of this fear loop a negative test is what might be needed "nib it at bud", will HIV RNA and 4th GEN AG/AB taken at 30 days provide conclusive results? I know for 4th gen 45 day is what you are recommending but in my case with my exposures will 30 days  be enough for 4th gen + HIV/RNA  to be conclusive?

Thank you again for your kind service. Covid has impacted many people in different ways for me it seems to have created unnecessary fear and anxiety for blood borne pathogens and diseases. 

1.  Correct, NO RISK!!

2.  Repetitive.  I already told you that this is fanciful and not a realistic concern.  HIV is NOT Transmitted this way.

3.  Nothing you have described describes any risk whatsoever for HIV and thus is not a reason to abstain from unprotected sex with your wife.  

4.  Yes.  Testing would also be a waste of time and money

5.  There is no risk for HIV from a sex toy received in the mail.

You really need to move on from these unrealistic concerns.  If you cannot, I recommend counseling, not testing.  EWH

1. Accuracy of Oraquick at 1.5 years considering multiple 5-6 tests taken all negative following low  risk exposure? Should people believe these tests or consider lab testing?

2. From what I have read on this forum there has been only 1 eye exposure HIV case and that too occurred in a lab setting, for eye exposure to be real risk it needs to be in medical or lab setting with arterial blood spraying (lot of qty of it) directly into eye, inoculation of eyes after day to day exposure poses no meaningful risk.

Appreciate your patience and responses. God bless

1.  Yes. These results should absolutely be believed.  Further testing in not only not needed but it is a waste of time and resources.

2.  Correct as well.  Even getting blood or genital secrfrom and untreated HIV infected person is most unlikely to lead to infection and should never be a concern.

I hope that my responses have been helpful.  This complthis thread. EWH