possible needle stick

[worriedwart]

About a week anda half ago,  I was emptying my gf 's recycling trash and it was full and could feel the recycling materials on top and threw mines in  but banged my finger on the can.  

My concern is if there was a needle would there be a risk (it was late night when this occurred and did not see anything in particular.) I did not see any blood  but at home several minutes later there was a small circular patch of skin missing in the area where I banged my thumb but no blood and did not se eany flesh wound.  

I poured some rubbing alcohol on the area and did not sting but the alcohol was 8 years past the expiration.  The thumb area was little numb for awhile.

The tenants in the building are gay and my gf told me to be careful.

should I be tested.   I know testing now would be early but in some of your posts you say 4 weeks is enough and some 6 weeks.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I almost deleted your question without response, under the guidance about deleting questions with obvious answers and little educational value, like "...those about low risk exposures to HIV, such as oral sex, condom-protected intercourse, hand-to-genital exposure, and nonsexual contact with possibly infected blood or body fluids as well as symptoms of early HIV infection."

But I'm feeling generous, so I will answer.  My response is "get real".  If that sort of exposure could transmit HIV, the whole world would have been infected long ago.  No chance.  Do not seek testing.

HHH, MD

[skerdstraght68]

Needlestick risks usually come from passing needles or in a medical situation where fresh blood is on the needle.  Not needles that are laying around fluctuating through various degrees of temp and atmoshpere suroundings.  HIV doesnt live long outside the body and deffinitly not hanging around trash cans.