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Geek Culture / The dangers of contact with human blood?

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Dextro
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Joined: 26th Feb 2005
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Posted: 20th Apr 2009 05:17 Edited at: 20th Apr 2009 05:20
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Quote: "iirc blood realted maladies such as HIV can only live 20 seconds outside the human body, so if you come into contact with blood in the street, chances are nothing will happen."

It is actually true that virions of HIV will disintegrate after a very short period of time if being exposed to oxygen.
The catch is, not all virions will be exposed to oxygen at once, so yes, it is very possible to get infected with HIV if you have contact with infected blood even if it has been exposed to air.



Quote: "I'm sure it's not that quick, maybe a few hours. But if HIV is in a blood sample it's got sustanence and it's going to be frozen too."

Viruses don't actually live, they are more like protein envelopes floating with some dna/rna inside... no breathing, no eating. It doesn't "die" if it is not provided with host cells.
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Uncle Sam
19
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Joined: 23rd Jul 2005
Location: West Coast, USA
Posted: 20th Apr 2009 08:58
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No, viruses are alive. They steal your files and refuse to let you open them.

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