Top 5 Myths on how you can get infected with HIV
Truth: Sounds scary by fortunately is a complete myth. First of all we know that the HIV virus dies really quickly once it is out of the human body unless it is specially stored in a sealed syringe or blood bag. This certainly does not apply when it is in the belly of the mosquito. Furthermore, the amount of blood that is actually transmitted by a mosquito sting is too little and therefore carries too few HIV viruses to infect a person. Honestly, there are a whole lot more things to worry about from mosquito stings like Dengue and Malaria than HIV.
Truth: Another complete myth. You cannot get infected with HIV by sharing chopsticks, spoons, forks or any other piece of silverware. The saliva contains very little HIV virus to begin with. The few that actually get into your mouth are quickly killed by antibodies in your own saliva. Also, the saliva is much less concentrated that the HIV virus (scientific jargon: hypotonic) and this makes the HIV virus literally swell up and die. There is also a chemical called Mucin in the saliva that kills the HIV virus. Just like mosquitoes, there are other worse things to worry about from shared chopsticks like Helicobacter Pylori. Yes it is as nasty as it sounds and a whole lot more common than HIV.
Truth: A very common worry especially amongst ladies but a completely unfounded one. Remember the HIV virus dies really quickly when out of the human body? By the time you sit on it, most if not all of the HIV virus is probably already dead. Furthermore, another fact is HIV cannot infect you through your skin. Some people may worry that they have small cuts or abrasions on their thighs they did not know about. This is still not a problem because most of the natural defences of the skin are still present even if there was a cut of abrasion. The skin defends itself in a lot more ways that just being a mechanical barrier. It has immune cells, antibodies and all sorts of other mechanisms to kill any virus or bacteria that seek to invade it. More paranoid people may worry about the blood splashing onto their privates and infecting them from there. Again that is not a worry as the amount of blood would be too small to overcome the natural defences of the mucosal membranes that cover your more sensitive areas.
Truth: Well if this was true the number of people infected with HIV in this world would be a whole lot more than 35 million. This is obviously another myth. Although the saliva does contain HIV virus, it is too little to cause an infection. Furthermore, the amount of saliva that actually gets into the eye in these situations is probably less than a drop. Even in the very unlikely scenario that some HIV virus got onto the eye, the natural defences of the eye will easily kill it. There have never been any cases of anyone getting infected with HIV in this way.
Truth: You watched Lord of the Rings? Remember the scene at Helms Deep when the orcs blew a huge hole in the castle wall? What happened in the end? The orcs still got beaten back right? Your skin is like that. The skin defences are more than just a mechanical barrier. It has antibodies and immune cells and all sorts of defence mechanisms waiting to kill whatever virus comes its way. In fact, this is not even a good analogy. Because for a cut to breach the entire skin barrier, it would be so deep that it is gushing blood and need stitches. Trust me, you would be heading straight to the nearest clinic or hospital if you had a cut like that. Furthermore, the blood on the railing most likely cannot even infect you in the first place! Remember HIV dies quickly outside the body? That does not mean you should be walking around with an open wound. Although you cannot get infected with HIV you can get infected with Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and all sorts of other nasty bacteria.
So how can you get infected with HIV?
You can get HIV by having unprotected sex with someone with HIV, by having multiple casual sexual partners and by sharing needles for injection drug abuse with someone infected with HIV. The surest way to protect yourself from HIV is to stay faithful to your partner who stays faithful to you. If not, always use a good quality latex condom.
We are a fully certified Anonymous HIV testing and screening clinic in Singapore. We use Gold Standard tests in accordance to latest international Standards and Guidelines.
High risk exposure to HIV in the last 72 hours
Condom Broke? HIV PEP or HIV Prevention / Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is the use of antiretroviral (ARV) medications to prevent or to stop the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from entering and infecting the body after exposure in the last 72 hours.
Long term prevention from HIV
HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is simply a tablet taken daily that reduces a person’s risk of contracting HIV.
Anonymous HIV Testing at Our Clinic
Dr. Tan and Partners is one of the few MOH approved Anonymous HIV Testing Centres in Singapore. Learn More
STEP 1: RECEPTION
1.) Just walk into our clinic Robertson Walk.
2.) Let our staff you are here for the “3 step test”*.
3.) You will be given a pamphlet & AHT Registration Form
4.) The form does not require any personal details from you.
STEP 2: SEE OUR DOCTORS
5.) The doctor will see you in his or her room.
6.) You will have a private consultation with the doctor.
7.) Doctor will proceeds with the “3 Step Test”*.
STEP 3: RESULTS and POST-RESULTS CONSULTATION
8.) After 20 minutes your results will be ready.
9.) Assessment on the results of your HIV test.
We have teamed up with the counselors from Oogachaga to provide free counselling while you wait.
This service will be available every Friday from 6pm to 9pm beginning 11th July 2014 at our Robertson Walk branch.
You may print the Anonymous HIV Testing form and pass it to our Staff Print AHT Form
General Information on HIV
- How does HIV enter the body?
- A quick breakdown on how HIV can be transmitted
- How long can HIV live outside the body?
- Early Symptoms of HIV
- HIV Symptoms
- HIV Window Period
- False Negative HIV ELISA test
- HIV ELISA test and HIV ECLIA test
- HIV CMIA Test Accuracy
- HIV 4th Generation Test Singapore: HIV P24 Ag/Ab Test, Duo Test, Combo Test
- HIV P24 Ag/Ab Test, Duo Test, Combo Test at our Clinic
- HIV Test Kit
- HIV Testing – FAQ
- Video of Positive Oraquick Advance HIV 1/2 Test
- Video of Alere Determine HIV test – Positive Test
- Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Treatment
- When to test for HIV during and after completion of PEP
- HIV Cure
- HIV Treatment
- How Long can HIV live outside the body?
- Condom Broke
- Medicines to Prevent HIV – PrEP
- Getting HIV from Oral Sex
- How effective are Condoms, Diaphragms and Circumcision in preventing HIV transmission?
- Female to Female Sexual Transmission of HIV
- Viral Load and what it means
- CD4 T-Cell Count and what is means
- Anonymous HIV Testing and Counselling
- STD Questionnaire – its to determine your risk status for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV