Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

How long does HIV stay active?

Is there an approx. known time length that HIV can stay active (ex. few drops of blood) outside the human body on an object?
17 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
150 ever in 25 years.  Since 1985 when they started collecting data on healthcare occupational exposures.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Is there any studies done to prove the virus becomes inactive right away?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
About 150 U.S. healthcare workers
have been infected on the job by
HIV since 1981.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
sorry forgot the ?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
150 in 25 years
Helpful - 0
1364665 tn?1291607092
Which part of this sentence you didn't understand " Once the virus is outside the host it becomes in.active / The virus cannot live in in.animate objects" ? . You're worrying needlessly. It's time for you to accept and move on from that incident.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Teak, there's actually 900,000 exposures a YEAR to HIV in the healthcare field? and only 150 people ever infected or 150 per year?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Outside the host = Inactive Virus
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Drawing blood, accidently sticking your self and infusing some of the contents from the syringe into your veins. Since the data collection started in 1985 to today there is on average of 150 people that have contracted HIV in the heathcare field todate. Considering in the US there are over 900,000 exposures a years. Now multiply that by 25 years and you can see that it is rare for someone to contract HIV in that manner.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
ok that makes sense, so it takes essentially a second or two for the HIV to become unactive? once exposed to air.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If infected blood is in a syringe it has NEVER been exposed to air, therfore it is still active and able to infect when it is INJECTED into someones blood stream.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
can you give an example of what you mean by that?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I said, It's the contents of the syringe you have to be concerned about.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
yea the infected blood you mean, in a needle?
but how's that different than on an object?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's the contents of the syringe you have to be concerned about.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
So how does it work with a needle then?

It has to

1) be out of it's host

2) be exposed to air

to become unactive, correct?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It doesn't stay active outside it's host.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the HIV Prevention Community

Top HIV Answerers
366749 tn?1544695265
Karachi, Pakistan
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
Can I get HIV from surfaces, like toilet seats?
Can you get HIV from casual contact, like hugging?
Frequency of HIV testing depends on your risk.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) may help prevent HIV infection.