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AIDS/Can HIV survive outside the body fluid or dried body fluid?

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Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 3/20/2006


Question
Can HIV survive outside the body fluid or dried body fluid? If there're blood which contains HIV contacted on an medical instruments but it dried out. Can it transmitted to someone else then?

Answer
HIV cannot survive outside the human body unless it is contained in a transmitting fluid. Once the fluid is dry, HIV can no longer be transmitted to someone else. If there is wet fluids on a medical instrument then yes, it poses a risk but not once the fluids are dry.

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Volunteer

Kristen Brannock, MPH

Expertise

I can answer 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 become an HIV/AIDS counselor and was a member of CARES- Carolina AIDS Resource Education Service in college. I have an MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education and conduct research in the field of HIV prevention. I also take continuing education courses in HIV/STI prevention periodically.

Education/Credentials
Master of Public Health Health Behavior and Health Education UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health (formerly UNC-CH School of Public Health)

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