Is HIV Transmission Possible Through Contact With A Sterile Cotton Ball?

Posted on Wed, 2 Nov 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 2 Nov 2016 Answered on

Sat, 19 Nov 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I went in for an HIV test. The tester pricked my finger, then picked up a cotton ball from the desk and wiped my finger. The cotton ball was on the surface of the desk not on a paper towel or anything.

1. I was the first one in after lunch so no one was there for at least an hour before me.

2. I called the clinic they said that protocol is to disinfect the facility at lunch and cob.

3. there was only one other test that day and the clinic said they were negative

4. They couldn't remember if they were before or after me.

5. The tester said yes she didn't put a towel done but she puts the cotton blood side up so nothing was in the table.

6. The clinic said there is no need to retest.

Please this ended my nightmare as this test was conclusive. Could I have gotten HIV from the cotton ball on the desk, if there was blood there and the cotton ball picked it up and then got in the hole from the lancet where the blood was drawn. Do I need to be retested.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (37 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No risk

Detailed Answer:
Hi and welcome to HCM.

The answer is simple. There is not any risk of HIV transmission. It is true that cotton balls should be kept in bag or sterile towels but this is not seen in some cases and then the one who tests will clean blood with upper part of cotton ball. Also, HIV virus can't survive outside the human body for more than 2 minutes so it can't be present on table and be active virus to cause infection.

So there is no need for retest definitely.

Wish you good health.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (13 hours later)

So if there was blood on the table by chance and the cotton ball touched it, then touched my wound where the blood was draw (lancet stick) there is no way to get HIV.

are you saying the reason is too much time has passed (aprox 1 hour) but lets worse case it 15 -20 minutes (they said it was an hour) but if someone was tested right before me it would be at least 15 minutes

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
hi

Detailed Answer:
Much larger wounds and much larger amount of infected blood are required for HIV transmission. In this scenario that you describe, there is no even theoretical risk. Also, HIV virus simply cant survive outside the body for that time.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad