puncture wound

Hell-o, This is probably a low to no risk situation, but there is nothing more reassuring than hearing it from you.  I went to post a letter and as I was doing so a piece of metal was sticking out from the  box and it punctured underneath my nail causing it to bleed. I took a toothpick and tried to clean under the nail only causing it to bleed more. Did I have a risk of getting hiv if I got punctured by this piece of metal and a person who may have been hiv positive got punctured by this same piece of metal only a few seconds before and had left residues of their hiv blood on this piece of metal which may have gotten into my puncture wound when I punctured myself on this same piece of metal. Also was there even more of a risk if I ran a toothpick under the nail causing it to bleed more and driving posible hiv blood further into the wound? Do I need to test in this situation or can I just let it go?  Please respond if you will. Thank you for all the hard work you do on these forums. You guys don't realize what lifesavers you are. Thank you.

[impalajoe]

This piece of metal was situated in a place on the box where a lot of people could have had the same thing happen to them in the way of getting punctured by it.

[Teak]

You never had a risk. 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.

[impalajoe]

You are the best. I will put my worries aside and thank God for people like you.

[impalajoe]

Thanks so much for your earlier response. You said this is a no risk situation. Based on that fact is there any need for testing?

[nursegirl6572]

No risk=no testing.

Be sure your teatnus shot is up to date, and notify the post office so that they can fix it.

No risk for HIV.

[impalajoe]

Thank you so much for responding.

[impalajoe]

Teak it would mean so much to get a one word response from you. Do you think I need testing for this? Your opinion is very important to me.

[impalajoe]

I guess you are not responding to my request for a one word response about whether I should test or not for this no risk situation because you think the question is lame as you said i was never at risk and that would naturally follow that hiv testing would not be necessary. It would have just made me feel alot better to have you write that you feel no need for testing in this situation. I was just wanting a little morsel of reassurance from someone whose opinion I greatly respect.I respectfully request your one word response.Do I need testing for this no risk situation? If you don't answer I understand but it sure would make me feel alot better. Either way you'll still be a hero of mine.

[impalajoe]

Nurse Girl, Thanks for your earlier response which I respect, I had just wanted to hear from Teak as I had started the conversation with him.Does he tend to withdraw and not respond if he feels he has made what he thinks is a self explanatory response? So nursegirl based on what you wrote no risk=no test. I will rest on your reassurance.I am sure if I had anything to worry about I would be told by someone there at the forum.

[Teak]

Try reading the replies you have been given.

by Teak , 5 hours ago
You never had a risk. 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.

[joggen]

Why would you need to test if you did not have a risk? It makes no sense whatsoever and it is evident from your posts that part of you already understands that. It would be like advising a man to go get a pregnancy test after unprotected sex. Asking whether one needs to test after being advised that their situation is "no risk" is a classic Anxiety-Driven Question- the answer is already obvious. I'm sure the logical side of your brain already understands that you do not need to test- it is your anxiety is that is muddling things up for you. You should let this go fully confident that you did not catch HIV and move on to the important concerns of your life- the situation that you brought to this forum is not one of them.

[impalajoe]

Do I need testing for this situation? I just wanted to hear it from you.If you feel that this question has already been answered and if you concur with the other posters that there is no need for testing then there is no need for you to answer.

[impalajoe]

Teak where I used the word concur I meant to use the word agree, that is if you agree with the other posters that there is no need for testing then there is no need for you to answer my post.

[RainLover71]

He,s already told you,so take his advice,it,s the best your ever going to get.As for my opinion,you have got as much chance of contracting hiv from the event you have described as I have of being the next president of the united states.Zero.Paranoia is feeding your fear.

[impalajoe]

Teak. if you agree with the others that I do not need to test then I would prefer that you do not answer this post at all. That will put you all in agreement.

[impalajoe]

Thanks for putting me straight.You are so right about the paranoia feeding my fear. All my last posts were anxiety driven nonsense.I apologize to the people I subjected to having to read it on the forum especially when there are people on here with real issues.This all makes me sound like an idiot and I really used to be an intelligent person until I let this worry and anxiety overtake me over nothing.

[RainLover71]

Your not an idiot.Paranoia plays tricks on the mind,that's all.If we all learn to accept the facts we would all be better off in the long run.

[impalajoe]

Thank you. You are so right.

[impalajoe]

Apologies for my repeated posting over this no risk situation.I know if you felt I had any reason to be concerned or to test you would contact me and I would want you to, but with that excellent risk assessment I see no reason for you to.   You are an angel of mercy.  May God bless you for your compassion. I will trouble you no more over this.Promise.

[impalajoe]

I now know that all is well with this situation and I am putting it behind me. I will waste no more of my time on it.I wish you the best.