Dr. Obinna Ugwuoke
Obstetrics and Gynecology
The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.
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Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I suffer from OCD. My fear and my thoughts now are about HIV inflection. I know everything about HIV. I have done many tests to clear my fear and come back negative from my last exposure which was about four months ago. The problem is about my latest test. It was a home test kit. It was negative but when I read that the strip is percolated with recombinant antigens and proteins then my OCD increased. I started to fear that if I touch the membrane of my own test and spread these antigens in the house in everything. I fear that when I wash my hands after the test and touch the towel before I wash them these antigens stay on the towel. What if my mom uses it for her body and I was afraid that she could catch HIV from this. All doctors told me that these antigens are not contagious and it is not the virus. What is your opinion? My fear is about these recombinant antigens and proteins. Are these contagious?
Kindly help.
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
The recombinant antigens are not contagious. They are not the real HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Also, if it was HIV, it does not survive outside a host for long to be transmitted from surface or towel to an individual. So, neither you or your mother have been exposed to the virus by touching surfaces or using a towel in your house because:
1. The recombinant antigens are not contagious and they are not the actual virus.
2. Even if it was the actual virus, the virus does not survive outside a host for long, so can not be transmitted from the surface or towel at home.
I hope this information will help you.
Thanks.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
My mom used the towel after three days. I understand all of these are from my fear and anxiety. I want to tell her to take PEP, but I think no doctor suggests this. I did not know about all of these, and when I read about antigens, I got scared and felt guilty that I did not wash my towel after I used them to avoid my mom or others using them.
Kindly help.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
There is no need for PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) for her. Even if there was HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) blood on the towel, there would still be no need for PEP as the virus would have been long-dead by the time the towel was used. So, your mother is fine and should not be given PEP, thereby exposing her to side effects from the drugs.
I hope this information will help you.
Thanks.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
I feel calm right now because my OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) cannot make me clear. I can understand how impossible it is for antigens to leave the membrane and stay on my hands. The water on towels, even if they stay on them, makes them inactivated. Even if antigens are activated, they are not contagious.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I understand your concern.
You are welcome.
I hope this information will help you.
Thanks.
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Obstetrics and Gynecology
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