Very very worried about contracting HIV.

[covex101]

Hello doctor,

I have ordered an HIV rapid test kit. As I am in a remote area right now, I had to get a HIV rapid test approved for USAID.

I understand these home rapid test kits has the HIV antigen embedded in the capture pad, which then will react if the blood sample is followed by the diluent and an HIV antibody was found in the blood specimen.

According from the manufacturer site, this is what it said:

"The assay starts with a diluent prepared sample applied to the sample well. The HIV antigen -colloidal gold conjugate embedded in the sample pad reacts with the HIV antibody present in blood, serum or plasma sample forming conjugate/HIV antibody complex.  As the mixture is allowed to migrate along the test strip, the conjugate/HIV antibody complex is captured by a second antibody immobilized on a membrane forming a colored test band in the test region.  A negative sample does not produce a test band due to the absence of colloidal gold conjugate/HIV antibody complex.  The antigens used in the conjugate test are recombinant proteins that correspond to highly immunoreactive regions of HIV1 and HIV2.  A colored control band in the control region appears at the end of test procedure regardless of test result. This control band is the result of colloidal gold conjugate binding to the anti-HIV antibody immobilized on the membrane."

This was the test kit:

http://www.csinnovation.com.sg/ez-h2-rapid-anti-hiv-1-2-test.html

When I pricked my finger, I coudn't get enough blood in so I kind of touched the capture/sample pad a little bit with my broken finger rather than letting it drop. I'm afraid of HIV exposure after learning that the pad contains the HIV antigen.

Can I get exposed to HIV after what occured?

This was my third month post check, result was negative, and at 9 weeks I came negative.

Please advise. I am very deeply worried and stressed about this.

[covex101]

Thank you so very much for alleviating my fear! I had been stressing about this all day and wasn't able to sleep.

Thank you.

[Dr Mervyn Tyrer, MB BCh; Dip HIV Medicine, Freedomhealth London]

Don't worry! The tests do not contain live virus, simply bits of virus that your body will react to if you have HIV antibodies already. It is a physical impossibility to contract HIV through the actions you describe. Even if you ate the kit or rubbed it on your genitals there would be no possibility ever, in any circumstance at all of you contracting HIV though this mechanism. The tests are entirely virus free and do not pose a risk to you. (I wouldn't eat it though because unlikely to be tasty) take care but honestly, forget this silliness. Merv