Aa
Manicure
I got a manicure on Sunday at a Vietnamese place. I forgot to bring my own tools so decided to let them use theirs. I saw the lady who did The manicure take the tools out of the uv light sanitizer. However she nipped me while cutting my cuticles in one finger- a very tiny nip but I did bleed. I want to know if the uv light does indeed clean the instruments if someone else used it and there was HIV earlier that day and for how long does it have to be in the uv light machine? Should I get tested for HIV due to this incident? I am so scared and cannot stop thinking about this. Also there was at least ten minutes between when I got there and when she actually used the tools.
Okay so either way I do not need to worry due to the 10-15 minute time gap which would have deactivated the virus? Amd lastly, would you get tested to be 100% positive?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
Thank you for your post.
First of all, I would like to reassure you as it is highly unlikely that you could have been infected that way. I simply say so because HIV becomes unstable very quickly once outside of the body, being inactive after a few minutes, unable to infect. Therefore even if a UV light sanitizer had not been used, you would not have been infected.
Studies have shown that UV light can inactivate HIV after 5 to 20 minutes depending on the strength of the light and the temperature.
In summary, no risk for you; no need to test; no need to worry.
Best wishes,
Dr José
Thank you for your post.
First of all, I would like to reassure you as it is highly unlikely that you could have been infected that way. I simply say so because HIV becomes unstable very quickly once outside of the body, being inactive after a few minutes, unable to infect. Therefore even if a UV light sanitizer had not been used, you would not have been infected.
Studies have shown that UV light can inactivate HIV after 5 to 20 minutes depending on the strength of the light and the temperature.
In summary, no risk for you; no need to test; no need to worry.
Best wishes,
Dr José
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