Questions11

Thank you! Unfortunately, as I looked into "panel members" more, I read that they are plasma that is positive for hiv 1 and 2, which leads me to believe that there are actual viruses on the test stick. The Oraquick website says that there are no live/active viruses on the test, so I'm assuming these are inactivated viruses but I feel very uneasy about there being viruses on the test. Worst case scenario, if these viruses were active and somehow "slipped" from the test stick (which I'm assuming is an airtight environment) down to the test pad while swabbing the gums, would this be a risk? Please tell me I would have nothing to worry about even in the worst case scenario. My fear is that somehow there would be active viruses on the test pad which I used to swab my gums. This is what the test stick looks like: http://www.oraquick.com/What-is-OraQuick/How-Oral-Testing-Works I am not concerned about the peptides but I am concerned about the panel members.

It really means a lot that you're trying to help a stranger with severe OCD on the internet. It has helped me feel better and I appreciate your kindness.

I googled "panel members" and not sure how accurate but a google search led me to "plasma that is positive for hiv 1/2". Is this accurate??????? Are there ACTUAL VIRUSES on the test? If so are they inactivated and how would I know for sure that mistakenly (or purposely) the viruses aren't active??? Also, since LAB GROWN viruses can survive longer, does that mean they would remain active throughout manufacturing/shipping??? I wish I never took those tests!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for the reply! I have looked them up and I know what they are but I am interested in how they are made. The peptides and the protein A...Are they taken out of a live virus or are they chemically created (without the need of growing a virus in the lab)? I'm worried that someone could have mistakenly used a whole virus instead of just the antigens, but if the peptides and protein A are made without the need to make a whole virus, then it would make me feel a little better. Does anyone know the process of how peptides and recombinant protein A are made?

What are these:HIV 1 & 2 Peptides/Panel Members (Defibrinated), GP-36 Peptide [biotinylated](N/A), GP-41 Peptide [biotinylated](N/A)? Also, what is "recombinant protein A"? Please someone who knows, answer.

String Junky, I read that part and I understand that the test is not supposed to have a live virus in it. As I have stated, my fear is that someone could have mistakenly or purposely placed it in the test. Which is why I ask, how do these companies get access to the antigens they place on the test? I have been doing some research and it seems that peptides are synthetically made. Can one make the peptides (synthetic antigens I'm assuming) without making the whole virus? I'm afraid that if they are making the whole virus, that they could make mistakes when pulling out the antigens. What are these:HIV 1 & 2 Peptides/Panel Members (Defibrinated), GP-36 Peptide [biotinylated](N/A), GP-41 Peptide [biotinylated](N/A)? Does anybody know the answer to this? Basically, I am asking how does the ORASURE company create the antigens used in the test?? Or any other test that uses them. Can someone please explain this to me as I would feel much better if I knew they weren't producing whole viruses that could mistakenly end up on the test.

I don't think I had any cuts in my mouth. I guess one of the things I am wondering about is how do they create the antigens that they place on the test? Do they have a science lab? Do you need to create a whole virus in order to create the antigens or can scientists create antigens without the virus? I guess one of my fears is that someone mistakenly or purposely could have put synthetic viruses on the actual test... Please enlighten me on this topic. This is from their website: "Nitrocellulose Pad: Contains: HIV 1 & 2 Peptides/Panel Members (Defibrinated), GP-36 Peptide [biotinylated](N/A), GP-41 Peptide [biotinylated](N/A), Modified Avidin (1405-69-02) and F(Ab)”2 Goat Anti-Human IgG (H+L) (N/A). Nitrocellulose Pad Concentration: Contains 0.01-0.1% concentration or less of the chemicals listed above. The mixture (in the concentration provided) is not known to be an OSHA hazardous chemical or other regulatory listed material. The mixture may cause skin and eye irritation upon contact in highly sensitive individuals. The material and its container should be disposed of in a safe way and in accordance with Local, State and Federal Regulations. No known or anticipated adverse health hazards are likely for the small amount of chemical mixture provided on this strip. Utilize Good Laboratory Practices. NOTE: Pad only contains HIV 1 & 2 peptides, there is no active/live virus contained within the product as offered to the public." Can someone PLEASE explain what exactly these are??

Yes, I feel better about the environmental risks but still worried about other things. Currently I am worried about the oral tests I took. I know that they use an antigen on the test and that if you have antibodies, it will bind to these antigens...My questions are: (and I'm hoping someone can help as I can't find these answers anywhere) 1. How are these antigens created to be placed on the test? Do laboratories grow an artificial virus or can they synthetically create antigens? 2. How do they then transfer these antigens to all these tests? Is it a machine that creates the tests or are they hand made? 3. Where on the test are the antigens located? 4. If someone maliciously or mistakenly put viruses on the test, what are the odds of getting infected through it? (this is the ultimate question that has been driving me crazy)

Thanks for the info!

StringJunky, What people have said here has caused my OCD to skyrocket. It can live in the environment for hours?? Why the conflicting information from different sources? Some say minutes and some say hours. If it can live in the environment for hours, how can one even eat out at restaurants? What helped me with my OCD about hiv years ago was learning that it was not infectious once it hit the air. Now, are you guys telling me this is wrong and that it can remain infectious for HOURS?? This isn't just about getting tested. It is about many things. I am trying to overcome my fears of going to the dentist and having needles or dental equipment in me and I am asking you guys for help and advice. I read a few articles about dentists that weren't following protocol and this has created this whole mess. How do I know that the equipment they use has been properly sterilized? Do you just "assume" they have? Do I need to get tested every time I go to the dentist now? I live in the U.S but it is still hard to be sure. Do I ask to watch as they sterilize the equipment before it is used on me? How does one make sure universal precautions are being implemented?

It is hard to work on my OCD when I hear that these are REAL possible ways of transmission. I am having terrible anxiety over all this. I don't even trust the oral swab tests anymore and know I need a blood test done but I can't seem to find the courage to go anymore. I have not had OCD regarding HIV for 7 years and now I am learning that the things that helped me aren't even TRUE. 1. First, let's please clarify the whole "hiv can still infect hours after being in the environment" thing. Does this mean that if there is hiv+ blood on the toilet and you sit on it 2 hours later and have a cut, that you can possibly become infected? Or that if it is in instruments at the dentist and he/she drills your teeth that you can get infected? So, it really is not that fragile after all??? Why do all the hiv hotlines and prevention forums online keep saying that "the virus is inactive when it hits the air due to temperature and ph level change"?. This is very confusing! Can you please clarify this? 2. How much blood is needed to infect? What are the odds of infection if the dental equipment wasn't cleaned? How about if a new anesthesia syringe wasn't used? And last but not least, I am very scared of blood draws and needles. What are the chances of infection if a used butterfly needle was used to draw your blood? Would the blood from the previous person clot the needle? Would it be enough to infect? It would be a direct transmission to the vein so this really scares me. How do all of you manage to go to the dentist and doctors without being as terrified as I am??? I don't know where all this came from. I used to be able to go prior to my ocd starting and then I read articles about some messed up people in the field that were not properly sterilizing equipment and reusing needles/syringes. I don't know how to get through this as it is ruining me!

WOW! HOURS???? I was told that "hiv dies within seconds/minutes at most when it hits the air/leaves the host"...I'm aware that viruses aren't alive but it's the terminology most people use.... So, how would one know if the equipment was properly sterilized? Also, does this mean that if the woman at the clinic placed hiv contaminated plasma on the oral swab before I used it, that I could be at risk???? This is terrifying me!!!!

How about this link that says the virus can live on the environment for days??? I always thought when it hit the air it became inactive...I am so confused now. Can it stay active on dental equipment??

Can someone please answer my last question? I'm really going through a lot. And is the information here correct? I thought the virus became inactivated upon contact with air... http://www.aidsmap.com/Survival-outside-the-body/page/1321278/

I got this from the website. It is regarding their test kit controls (which are used to determine if a test is working or not): Each Kit Control box contains a package insert and three vials (one HIV-1 positive control, one HIV-2 positive control and one negative control) as described below: 1. HIV-1 Positive Control One black-capped vial containing 0.2 mL of photo chemically inactivated human plasma positive for antibodies to HIV-1, diluted in a defibrinated pool of normal human plasma. Preservative: ProClin 5000. Negative for Hepatitis B surface antigen and Hepatitis C antibody. 2. HIV-2 Positive Control One red-capped vial containing 0.2 mL of photo chemically inactivated human plasma positive for antibodies to HIV-2, diluted in a defibrinated pool of normal human plasma. Preservative: ProClin 5000. Negative for Hepatitis B surface antigen and Hepatitis C antibody. 3. Negative Control One white-capped vial containing 0.2 mL of defibrinated pool of normal human plasma negative for antibodies to HIV-1 and HIV-2. Preservative: ProClin 5000. Negative for Hepatitis B surface antigen and Hepatitis C antibody. What does this mean??? It also says how it is stored in a "clear liquid"....

Arete, I understand that but I'm asking is it possible for someone to have placed the virus in the swab or in the test stick, which would allow the virus to fall to the swab when I used it? This is very distressing for me. Can someone isolate hiv and put it in clear fluid so that I wouldn't have noticed? I want to know if this test is safe to reuse.

What do you mean get a test done by a medical professional? I had 2 tests done at a clinic. Do you mean get a blood test done? Is there anyone that can please answer me this question about the oral swab? I did not see blood on the swab but I didn't thoroughly check either. Is there anyway the virus could have been there with some clear liquid? Or is there any way the virus could have been inside the test stick? The tests I took were the Oraquick oral swab. And yes, I know- getting more tests would end my questions about these tests but because I have OCD, I fear needles intensely (which is why I did the oral swab test). Now, I am doubting if the oral swab test is safe. Is it my OCD causing me to doubt the possibility of the test being infected or is there some real science validity behind this? I know that scientists can isolate the hiv virus in labs under certain conditions. What are those conditions and can those conditions be replicated? I mean the test is an immonoessay later flow test and I know the test itself is safe but assuming someone tampered with it, could I be at risk? This is really making it hard for me to function. Please someone answer!

I have severe OCD and I used to think I was pretty educated on HIV and did not lose my mind fearing it the way I have now. Please keep in mind before reading and responding that these fears are really impacting my life as I can't stop thinking about this. What makes it worse is that I can't seem to find many answers. Here is what happened: I read about a dentist and some other medical offices that weren't following universal precautions and were putting people at rick for HIV and HEP C. This triggered my OCD and I decided to get test. At this point however, given that needles and syringes were my reason for getting tested, I wasn't capable to do a regular blood draw. So I took 3 oral swab, oraquick HIV tests. I did not worry about the tests initially, although I found that they weren't that reliable, but then my brain started going all over the place with "what if" scenarios...and now I am stuck and feel like I know nothing about HIV, and basically am afraid I could be at risk for simply taking these tests. I keep thinking "What if someone isolated the virus, put it on some clear chemicals and put a preservative in it so the virus could survive?" Is this even POSSIBLE to do inside a test stick or on a cotton test pad? I used the test pad to swab my upper and lower gums. Where does "reality" end and where does my "ocd" start because right now I am seriously losing my mind. I hope someone can help!!

I have taken the test a few times at the clinic and at home. At the clinic, I and the women working there both touched the test tube. The home test-I developed fears about the test having possibly been tampered with since it came with tape at the top (they all had tape) BUT also the tests are returnable, which didn't sit well with me and spiked my anxiety. If someone else's blood (at the clinic or the home test) were to have gotten on the test tube and then small drops got on my fingers, would there be a chance for the virus to have remained infectious? Or would the ingredients deactivate the virus? If this was another environmental exposure I wouldn't stress as much but this IS an HIV test after all, so this makes me worry more.

Thanks guys! The Oraquick hotline has no clue about any of this and it is impossible to speak with a doctor regarding this product. I have really bad anxiety which caused me to take this test. When I was finished, there was a little bit of solution left that I spilled out. I was under the assumption that HIV could not really be infectious outside the body. I do not work in a lab and some of the terminology goes over my head. Assuming it had been awhile that contaminated blood may have been in the solution, could it still be infectious? The solution came in a tube and i opened it, let the test run for 20 minutes, then dumped it out. I guess what I want to hear is that the virus would not be able to remain infectious inside those chemicals, for that amount of time, with the lid open etc etc. I just need to put this worry to rest and don't know who to go to with this. I know that when working at a clinic and using the fingerprick test, the solution, lancets and everything that touches blood is thrown away in the biohazard container as "infectious material". I also understand that this is universal precautions. I am just so confused. For so long, I have been told to not worry about HIV in the environment because it does not survive well outside of the body. Is this true? Is there a difference with this particular buffer solution? The solution is intended to allow the sample to flow through the test stick and if there are any antibodies, the solution allows for the binding with the antigens at the top. I suppose this is what worries me, that is IS an HIV test and that somehow the solution could allow survival of the virus. I do not know how much of each ingredient was in the solution but I know in total it was 1 ML. Do I have anything to worry about? Also, by the time the test was over, most of the solution was gone and very little had remained. It would have been small drops that would have touched my fingers. As far as the whole "was there any broken skin"? I do not know or remember but if there was, it wouldn't have been a deep cut. Perhaps some superficial skin peeling. I don't know. And I do not remember if I touched my eye/mouth/nose after this. BUT it would have been a very small amount of solution. Just please tell me I have nothing to worry about.

I appreciate the responses, thank you! I am talking in regards to taking an oraquick hiv test at a clinic. It is either a fingerprick test or an oral swab test and it comes with a test tube buffer solution that allows the sample collected to flow through the stick. If there are antibodies, they meet with the antigens that are applied at the top of the stick. The test tube solution contains approximately 1 ml of a buffered solution containing polymers and antimicrobial agents. The solution contains the following chemicals: sodium phosphate dibasic, sodium phosphate monobasic, ProClin 950, Polyvinylpryrrolidone, Triton X-100, Sodium Chloride & Sodium Hydroxide". These are the chemicals in the test tube solution. If someone else's blood with hiv was mixed with the solution and a small drop fell on your finger, would it be a risk? I often hear how once outside the body, the virus is not contagious, that transmission needs to be direct. I wonder if that is the case if the blood is in THESE particular chemicals. If they allow for the binding if antibodies and antigens, would they allow for the virus to remain active and infectious for long?

John, I appreciate your response. I am asking because this is a community that knows about chemistry and microbiology a lot more than I do. I stated that I have anxiety so please do not be rude to me. The buffer solution was touched by other people at the clinic besides me and I am asking IF there somehow were to have been infected blood in it and a small part spilled on me, could it remain infectious and if so for how long? I did not check to see if anybody else's blood could have gotten there. In short, would the chemicals in the solution inactivate the virus and render it unable to infect? I listed the ingredients in the buffer solution on my first post. Yes, the website says to discard all materials containing blood as infectious materials, which concerned me. I am not certain if there was any blood on the solution but I know a small amount may have gotten on me and I am concerned that if there was blood, would the ingredients in the solution kill the virus or no?

Thanks for the responses! This was not a work exposure. I took the Oraquick HIV test (at a clinic and at home). I have anxiety so I took it twice. The test comes with a test stick and a buffer solution, with the ingredients mentioned above. A very small amount of liquid from the tube may have splashed on me but I'm not sure. I just want to know if there was any infected blood in the liquid, would it have been able to survive and infect if it somehow got in contact with a small cut on my finger/eye/mouth/nose? The Orasure website discusses the liquid when used with blood and says that all materials handling blood should be considered possibly infectious and to be thrown in a biohazard container. However, I don't know if this is more for universal precautions and a "right away" thing, or if the buffer solution will contaminated blood could remain infectious for longer periods of time. Their customer service reps seem to know nothing. I want the scientific facts. People often say "it doesn't survive long outside the body" and that's very vague. Many sources say many different things, that it needs the body temperature, pH level of 7 (I believe) and the human host to survive. But are there other conditions that could keep it infectious, such as the chemicals in this buffer solution? This is causing me a lot of anxiety.

Does anybody know if HIV would be able to remain infectious in a buffer solution? I recently took a test and may have spilled a little bit of the solution on me. I keep wondering if there was any infected blood in the solution would the virus be killed by the chemicals? The chemicals in the buffer solution are: The test tube solution contained approximately 1 ml of a buffered solution containing polymers and antimicrobial agents. The solution contains the following chemicals: sodium phosphate dibasic, sodium phosphate monobasic, ProClin 950, Polyvinylpryrrolidone, Triton X-100, Sodium Chloride & Sodium Hydroxide". Please let me know as I am not very familiar with science! Thanks!