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Can I get HIV/AIDS from using possibly infected toilet paper on a cut?
Okay, so I went to work 3 months ago, and they made me shave because I hadn't and it's work policy. After I finished shaving, I stupidly took some toilet paper(it was still in the dispenser, though some of toilet paper was sticking out), not knowing if it was used previously. It didn't look like it was used but I didn't pay close enough attention to know for sure. I got the shaving cream off my face, which there was more than one cut for the something to get into, with the toilet paper from the dispenser. If there was HIV infected cells on there, would I have a chance of getting an STD from it? I don't know how long it was setting there, of course. There's no sign of any other STDs. Should I have an STD test and an HIV/AIDS test done just in case?
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EDIT IN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK:
The CDC goes on, in that very document, to say this:
"Since the HIV concentrations used in laboratory studies are much higher than those actually found in blood or other specimens, drying of HIV-infected human blood or other body fluids reduces the theoretical risk of environmental transmission to that which has been observed - essentially zero. Incorrect interpretations of conclusions drawn from laboratory studies have in some instances caused unnecessary alarm."
It's important to read the whole document, or you might miss the qualifiers. Scienctists are often bad at summerizing in a way that is useful to laymen readers.
What this means, is that unless there was wet, human saliva or blood on the tissue that was extremely recent (and excuse me for assuming you would have mentioned such a thing, should you have noticed it) CDC reports your risk of HIV contraction as being 'essentially zero' and cautions against 'unnecessary alarm'.
The stats, that HIV in every day occurrences cannot survive much beyond 10 to 20 seconds (ie, not laboratory conditions, but open air in common human living areas and surfaces) has been supported by studies from the CDC and the European equivalent, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A HIV/STD TEST DONE JUST IN CASE.
That's what I said here. That's what a lot of people said here. STD/HIV screening isn't a bad idea, if you are sexually active in any way.
Why did you ask the question if you'd already made up your mind? It's your body, go ahead and have an HIV test. Ask a doctor for a CAT scan, and blood test and full check up if you feel you really need it. I just gave you advice, your health is still your responsibilty, despite any good, or bad, advice you might ever receive from a bunch of laymen online.
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It's highly unlikely, damn near impossible.
HIV can only survive outside of the human body, without fresh cells to attack, for about 20 seconds at very most.
I wouldn't bother with an STD test based on this incident alone. Although they are a good practice, if you are sexually active.
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HIV cells do not live long outside the body, so you should be fine.
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EDIT:
I agree with Razhie. Do what you want. Get all the tests you want. People get costly, needless tests done on a daily basis. We just offer out opinions here, even when the questions are just short of stupid. :)
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=======No offense but that's a little far fetched. Don't worry about any tests. I think you are going to be fine.
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