test in about 2 years so I got one (OraQuick) about 20 days after my exposure. Now, I am aware that there is a window period of up to 3 months, so I must get tested again. I simply wanted to make sure that I did not have it up to that point. It has taken me a long time to decide whether or not to post. Instead, I have been browsing though the questions and answers of other members and must say that I am disappointed with the contradictions.
I have read about people posting about receiving hand
jobs with possible blood and most answers say that this is no risk because HIV does not last outside the body very long. I have also noticed that many of the answers seem to be copied and pasted or scripted. There are document cases of people becoming infected from blood splatters to the eye, mucous membranes or open cuts/wounds. These two things cannot be reconciled. How can it be that infection can occur this way, but not from blood going on to the foreskin or urethra? I have heard about the short life span of HIV outside of the body (30 seconds as many would say). However, in all of these cases the contact from blood on the cut or mucous membranes is almost immediate. We have fresh blood going in to an open cut or mucous membrane right away. If it can happen from a blood splatter, why would it not occur this way? I do not mean to insult anyone and am glad that such a support community does exist, but I don't feel as though many of the answers given are justified. I hope my questions here are answered. Thank you all for reading.
You did not have an exposure. HIV cannot live outside of its host and therefore could not infect you. Blood splatter to the eye is a totally different scenerio then yours is. Hope this helps.
How is it a different scenario? Blood goes directly to the mucous membrane Obviously HIV CAN live outside of its host for some amount of time, despite how small. If it can stay alive to infect via the eye, why not another membrane?
HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions; therefore, it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.
This sounds like a copout. I am not asking for anything more than an explanation as to the difference between a splatter of blood which is infection "OUTSIDE OF ITS LIVING HOST" to blood going from wound to mucous membrane. Can someone please be direct here? I don't mean to sound rude, but the answers seem evasive.
In fact, I was not given the information. If you don't know the answer then just say so or don't post. Don't give evasive answers or completely skip over the question.