Expert: Terry B - 6/17/2007

Question
I got my ears pierced at Claries and what they used on me was an ear piercing gun and a starter earring stud. (which is when the earring is forced into the ear)

I made sure to watch that the starter earring stud was new and opened in front of me, and they did take out some wipes that came with the set but i failed to notice how throughly it was cleaned. My issue is that i was unaware there was a risk for hiv when getting your ears pierced.
My question is how high is my risk based on this experiece/should i be tested?  A lot of people i have talked to have said that it is low risk/no risk yet if that is true why is it a warning on so many other websites...


thank you

Answer
Dear Christy:

Peace.  The probability is that the starter earring stud would not be contaminated with possible HIV infected blood.  Whether the gun was sterile is greater concern if any of the parts of that gun came in contact with your bloodstream.    How this equipment is used is outside my area of expertise, but anything that breaks your skin or mucous membrane (our 'natural barriers' to infection) carry potentially high risk.  Wiping with a 10% bleach solution should kill any surface virus, but I don't know about crevices in the instruments used.  In health care situations, equipment like that should be either disposable or autoclaved (sterilized) between patients.

I hope this answers your question.  Your risk of other, more easily transmitted diseases, such as hepatitis, are greater than your risk of HIV transmission.  I would recommend you protect yourself from the blood, semen, vaginal secretions of others and protect others from yours.  In the interim, see a health provider and be tested should any symptoms develop.

Best to you and yours.

Terry