AboutKristen Brannock, MPH Expertise I can answer any of your questions concerning HIV infection and AIDS. This includes ways it can and cannot be transmitted, how it is treated, how it affects the body and methods to protect yourself. I can also answer questions concerning safer sex and contraception.
Experience I trained with the Red Cross to be an HIV/AIDS counselor and I am a member of CARES- Carolina AIDS Resource Education Service.
Organizations CARES and trained by the Red Cross I also have my Master of Public Health in Health Behavior and Health Education.
i went for a third and final test eight months after my oral sex exposure, at a VCTC on saturday. it came out negative thru a capillus method. since yesterday i have developed low grade fever with cold and sore throat and pain in stomach and face. i am afraid that i have contracted hiv as i did not check if they used a fresh needle to draw my blood like how i did check the last two times. this is also a hiv treatment centre so most of the patients were hiv+. today i called the centre and they said that they used a fresh needle for me. i know you will will say that these days VCTC's use disposal needle but what am coming from is what if there was a mistake. to be honest i did not see blood on it but how can be sure about the inner part of the needle. you really cant see inside, can you? have i put myself at risk again... can i acquire HIV like this? please help. my worry is the feevr and other symptoms...can i be so unlucky in life? awaiting
ANSWER: HIV symptoms do not show up in a day.
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QUESTION: i agree with the symptoms... but was i at risk.. like i said there was no visible blood on the needle. Doc, Please do help me... am really in lotta trouble. do you recommend further testing
ANSWER: I dont know what to say to you. If the needle had been used on an HIV positive patient and then on you, transmission is possible. And yes, it is standard procedure to use only clean needles.
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QUESTION: Doc,
please be a li'l more clear. as i told you the needle was capped(definately) and had no visible blood.unaware of the bore though. i was told that drawing blood cannot transmit virus as nothing is pushed into my system.is that really true? or do i need to test again?
Answer It's right that drug users often spread HIV when they draw their own blood into the syringe and then inject the drug. However, I am not in a position to say sharing a needle without drawing in blood would not transmit HIV. Once again, I do not think you need to test.
