[Question #8546] Hiv risk?

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42 months ago
Hi there I was at a bar with a friend the other night, he engages a lot in very high risk unprotected sex on occasion which is the only reason I had a concern. 
We were chatting and multiple times I felt his spit land directly in my eye. I don't know if he had any bleeding going on in his mouth that night but I wanted to know if this posed an HIV risk to me, even given the worst case scenario like high viral load from recent infection and potential blood in the saliva, as I've read on some forums of other people with this same experience think this is zero risk and other think it is a risk so I wanted to get some clarity and peace of mind. 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
Welcome to our forum and thanks for your confidence in our service. I’ll be glad to confirm what you appear to have learned from reviewing other threads on our site. 

HIV is not transmitted in saliva or spit. This is the case even if the person’s spit contains blood from a lesion in their mouth. This is also the case even if the spit lands in the eye or in an open cut.  Similarly HIV is not transmitted through transfer of material which might occur in the sharing of glasses, or eating off the same plate or with the same utensils. I see no need for concern and no need for testing related to the event you describe above. 

I hope this information is helpful. If any part of this reply is unclear or razors other questions, please feel free to use you were up to follow up ups.  EWH 
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42 months ago
Thanks so much for your reply and giving me professional insight into this situation, I just had some follow up questions regarding infection as I can't find this answer by looking at your other questions. 
How long after someone is exposed to the virus and is infected does someone become infectious and are able to transmit? Do they have to display those flu like symptoms first and then they can transmit to others? Would 1-2 weeks after exposure produce a high viral load etc? 
And also confirming that a 4th gen test 6 weeks after exposure is 100% conclusive? as where I live doctors say conclusive results at 3 months. 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
42 months ago
1.  Persons with detectable HIV virus or infections to others. Persons with higher viral concentrations are more infectious than people with lower viral loads. The viral load is highest during the flu like symptoms which are called the ARS. The syndrome occurs most typically between 10 and 25 to 30 days following exposure. Viral loads peek at the time the ARS symptoms occur.  Please feel free to refer to the numerous threads on this site related to ARS symptoms and timing.

2.  This question is repetitive. Once again at six weeks the results of a fourth generation, combination HIV antigen/antibody test provides conclusive results.

EWH 
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