Can HIV test actually give me HIV?

Hello, I am in a very devastated state of mind and I sincerely hope I could be helped here.

First of all, my ultimate question is if HIV antigen or protein from an adulterated, unapproved, Chinese HIV test kit that uses EIA, Western Blot can give me HIV if the antigen or protein got into my open wound.

About 7 months ago, I had a protected vaginal sex with a prostitute that I am regretting. And this memory struck me recently and made me paranoid about me possibly having HIV.

So I bought a home HIV test kit called Ora-Well USA and used it to test myself. And the result turned out to be negative. I was so relieved for one day.

However, one day after, I read that it was not only a Chinese product, but it was not approved by FDA because it was not adulterated and was falsely advertised. This made me become paranoid again.

And I scraped off the white chromatographic immunoassay part of the test kit to see if anything else happened. And some of the white fragments from the membrane got into a open wound on my hand.

Only after it happening, I realized how dangerous it could be. From my understanding, EIA Western Blot test kits use HIV antigens and this antigen got into my wound. I was so shocked.

I understand that HIV virus becomes ineffective and dead if it is exposed to open air. I left my test kit alone at least for several hours after testing myself. So I thought the antigens in the test device might have died. But then I thought the producers of this kit might have done something medically to lengthen the storage period of this product.

I want to hear professionals' opinions. Is this exposure a dangerous one? Do you think the antigen could have been alive even after several hours to open air? Does unadulterated mean the antigen could still be alive?

Please help me out from this misery!!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  Sometimes it is possible to give an accurate reply based only on the title of a question.  That undoubtedly is the case here.  In the past 20 years there has not been a single known case of HIV being caught from having blood drawn, donating blood, or having an HIV test.  You are not likely to be the first.

And now having read the rest of your question, I have nothing more to add.  As you already learned on the HIV community forum, there is nothing in the details you describe that indicate any risk at all of catching HIV from being tested for it.  Live HIV never comes in contact with the test materials, and HIV antigens are not alive and never were; they cannot cause HIV themselves.

This is a  nonsensical concern.  Do your best to put it out of your mind.  In any case, experience on this forum shows that continuing discssion of irrational premises simply prolongs anxiety; there is always a "yes but", "what if", or "did you really understand" question.  I'm not going to play that game, so that will be all for this thread.

Take care--  HHH, MD