Do I need a Test

Dear Dr.,

Thanks for taking the time to answer my question.

I am in a medical testing facility doing a 3 week long drug study. My concern is over a possible exposure in the facility shower.

I went to take a shower as usual. After drying off, I went to the sinks to brush teeth etc -- at this point I noticed a clump of white located near the corner (by the nose) of my eye. I removed whatever it was ( I quickly washed it off so I am still not sure if it was just a bit cotton from the sweater I just put on, the towel I dried of with or -- what I fear -- some semen that was left in the shower). I thought it woudl not be unlikely that there would be semen because the shower is shared by a group of 25 men who can have no sexual contact for 3 weeks -- the shower would be the most common place to take care of their needs.

So -- the risk I am concerned about is that in the course of my shower I somehow got this semen on my hands (from the shower faucet, wall mounted soap dispenser etc.) and that this semen (if it was) got in my eye -- or anywhere else for that matter. (a mucous membrane)

The shower had not been used for at least 20 minutes before I got into it -- so the semen would have been exposed to air for that time. Also -- and finally -- I read some similiar posts about semen in the eye and they all contained the detail that semen in the eye is accompanied by harsh irritation -- I did not feel any of this so is it safe to assume no semen came near my eye?

I hope I have included all the relevant details and I thank you for your time.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You have provided all of the details needed.  This is no risk, even if what you noted on your skin was semen which is unlikely.  HIV lives poorly outside the body and would have been dead if it were there.  Finally, if you were in a medical study, the odds that any of the participants were HIV infected is low since persons with underlying diseases are typically excluded from medical studies unless it is a study of HIV infected persons.  

Bottom line--no risk.  Forget it and move on.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Just to be 100% clear - no testing needed.  EWH

[Jerry24]

Thanks Doc !

[Jerry24]

Hi Dr. Hook --

I was browsing some of the other posts and I was unable to find detailed data on a piece of information that might put many peoples fears at rest --

In some of the posts I read it was written that to become infected with HIV it takes "MORE THAN JUST ONE VIRUS" -- this seems to go hand in hand with the statistics on HIV transmission -- IE., a 1/100 chance of catching HIV if you have receptive anal with HIV positive partner -- If you could explain this idea a little more -- why it takes more than one virus and why the risk of transmission is low (comparitively) even in the riskiest sexual activites -- that would be helpful to me and anyone else who has low risk encounters but has unduly high anxiety about becoming HIV positive.

Cheers!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm not sure of the origin of this statement and suspect it has been taken out of context.  I will not comment on it.  It is also irrelevant to your question.  No change in my advice. EWH

[Jerry24]

Dr. Hook -- Sorry to bother you again. Just wanted to be absolutely clear with you -- even with the low likely hood that the semen (if there was any) was HIV pos -- could I be certain any HIV in the semen would be dead or unable to transmit the virus? I ask because in the first post I said 20 minutes but it may have only been 15 minutes since the last person was in the shower. I have no clue if this makes a difference but I want to put this behind me for good. Thanks again

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No change in my recommendation.  EWH

[Jerry24]

Hi Doctor --

After your advice I was -- thankfully -- able to move on and forget the incident entirely. However, for one reason or another I began to worry about it last night -- I re-read your post to remind myself of what you said and it helped.

Can you be absolutely sure i was at no risk -- that is, no risk of hiv even if semen did get into my eye? No risk if it got anywhere else? Are you positive any HIV would be dead or unable to transmit the virus after being exposed to the air for 15-20 minutes?

Thanks again and please forgive the repeat of this post.

[alienshadow]

man he has told you except it and let this go

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I think this line of questioning has become absurd.  My recommendation, based on the scenario you described and my knowledge of the HIV virus and its microbiology, was that you have NOTHING to worry about.  Now over a month since then you come back basically asking myself to repeat myself and I will.  The situation you describe has NO RISK.  No further questions please.  If you cannot stop worrying about this, it is not my advice you need but that of a counselor or other mental health professional to assist you in moving beyond these ill-founded concerns.  EWH