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stabbed myself with paperclip: risk of infection?
#165208 - 11/25/05 01:39 AM
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Hi,
while getting a HIV test at a clinic, I had to use the rest room.
The key to the restroom was on an improvised keychain made from twisted paperclips.
I managed to stab myself in the thumb with the the sharp end of a paperclip as I was using the key to open the restroom door. The paper clip didn't draw visible blood (at least I didn't notice anything), but I think it broke the skin. I think there was some clear white fluid that oozed out.
I washed my hands probably within a minute (I had to urinate first) but I figured the damage was done already.
Afterwards, I asked the receptionist at the clinic (who I know is HIV+ and a lot of the staff there are HIV+; I had conversed with him before at my 1-month test) how long it was since the last person had used the restroom key because I had managed to stab myself with it. If no one had used the rest room key for a while, then I figured there was no risk since any potential blood on the sharp end of the paperclip would have dried off.
The receptionist said that he didn't really know, since he wasn't really paying attention to it. But he said that he ought to really fix the restroom key since I wasn't the first person to have hurt myself on it.
Great! I come to get a HIV test (negative result as expected due to low risk exposure on my 2nd month test) and then potentially get infected.
How long do you think it would take for a drop of blood on the end of a paperclip to dry off? Five minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes?
Do you think, I need to restart my window period to zero?
Is this situation similar to a needle stick injury?
Anxious.
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ravi
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Legend
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Reged: 11/19/05
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Posts: 1148
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Loc: Adelaide, Australia
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hi
regards from india
Nope you have no risk whatsoever from the exposure you state and testing is unwarrented...relax!!
goodluck
stay well
take care
god bless you
love ravi
--------------------
Take Care
God Bless you
Stay Well
Love Ravi
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Seriously? You really think that you can get infected from that?
ROFL...best laugh I've had all day.
Thanks :)
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Seriously? You really think that you can get infected from that?
ROFL...best laugh I've had all day.
Thanks :)
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Seriously? You really think that you can get infected from that?
ROFL...best laugh I've had all day.
Thanks :)
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ItsFaith
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Legend
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Reged: 10/17/05
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Posts: 1329
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this is not similar to a needle stick...as HIV is contracted through hollow-bore needles, meaning that the center of the needles is hollowed out (to draw blood, or to insert med's) and the blood is drawn into the needle and the virus is transmitted that way..a paper clip is not hollow...it is solid metal....the virus (IF it was on there....died instantly when exposed to air) aside from a sore finger and perhaps an infection from regular old bacteria on the paperclip, you don't have to worry....seriously.
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Faith: Thank you.
I guess I am a bit anxious to begin with since I was already getting a HIV test. And there are a lot of HIV+ people amongst the staff and among the clients who get tested(4% test positive - which I was told is a high, by the receptionist).
Your response made me feel a lot better.
I think I am going to send them a real key chain though.
Thank you.
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