about 2 months ago I got an unprofessional tattoo done. 3 weeks before I had my tattoo done a girl with HIV had the inside of her lip tattooed (meaning that saliva was touching it, and from the research I did, most credible sources said that saliva inactivates 90% of all HIV). Now, the guy who did mine, while unprofessional, DID seem to know about cleaning procedures. I saw him open a brand new needle right before my eyes, but someone told me that if they don't clean the ink tube (the needle sits in this ink tube), you could get HIV because the needle can suck trace amounts of blood in.

ok, so lets say that even though he DID use a new needle, lets say he hadn't cleaned the ink tube in the 3 weeks that passed after the HIV girl got her tattoo. (oh by the way, he gives at least one tattoo every day, so ink would be constantly in and out of the ink tube). Wouldn't the blood dry inside the tube and become inactive? If you're unfamiliar with the tattooing process, an ink tube looks like the tip of your pen (not the part where the ink comes out, but the plastic cap that goes around it, you can usually unscrew it). So the ink tube is NOT air tight.

My question is, even if there WERE trace amounts of blood wouldn't they have:
1. Dried over night?
2. Wouldn't the ink have killed the HIV?
3. Since it was in her mouth wouldn't the saliva have deactivated some of the HIV?
4. Could HIV some how get all the way from the ink tube, down to the tip of the needle and then in to my skin? (seems unlikely).

Then, I looked on the CDCs website, and they said that there's NEVER been a reported case on HIV from a tattoo. I highly doubt I'd be the first then.

I'm just wondering though because I cannot get it out of my head, it's driving me crazy, do I have anything to worry about? I REALLY don't want to get tested if there's no reason.


Ps: Supposedly he DOES clean the ink tube. I just can't verify it.

Regardless of whether or not he cleaned the ink dispenser (which I'm sure he did), HIV simply doesn't live that long outside the human body. Period.

ok but like
he gives a tattoo every other day or so
so new blood would be in and out of the ink tube

wouldnt the new blood allow the hiv to live longer, or would the hiv die over night?

No. HIV needs to be in a living body, not a tube of anything, to live. Once exposed, it lasts less than a few seconds. Take comfort from the fact that there's never been a reported case of transmission through tattooing, take a deep breath, and relax.

you are worring over nothing... as said above no cases of transmission have ever been reported thru tattooing.

dustoff you are sort of wrong.. hiv can live outside the body but it needs a certian enviorment to survive, there have been cases of transmission thru transfusions. the hiv will survive in the blood outside the body,but it has to be in a quantity blood and the blood has to be in a controlled enviorment for it to live.

oh...alright cool, thanks

well since there has never been a case from tattooing and it appears nearly impossible for me to have gotten it in this manner, should I even bother getting tested?

oh...alright cool, thanks

well since there has never been a case from tattooing and it appears nearly impossible for me to have gotten it in this manner, should I even bother getting tested?

as long as you haven't taken any other risks(unprotected sex or other known risks), there is no need to be tested for hiv because of tattooing

nope never taken any other risks

thanks you guys have been a really big help, my anxiety is pretty much gone

I guess I realize how dumb it was, I mean, he used a brand new needle, and everyone says he sterilized it.

that and i mean, she was in there 3 weeks before me, there's no way it could've lived that long

thanks!

I'm still a little curious/worried. There's NO way for me to have gotten it? I mean like, 30 minutes afterwards i felt a little sick and stuff, and it was on and off for a day or two...there's no way that could've been HIV? I REALLY REALLY do NOT want to get tested, I'm so creeped out. I'm just looking for reassurance. I keep telling myself that no ones ever gotten HIV from a tattoo and that even if someone had, the girl was in there 3 weeks before me...and a clean needle was used...I'm just worried about the ink tube... =\

I don't think I have it, it just won't leave me alone...

you could have gotten a case of anxeity, but there is no way you have hiv
from that risk,no way no how.
good luck

i would have to guess the anxiety caused you not to feel well afterwards. when i get tattoos done i get this high and then afterwards once my adrenaline or whatever is gone from it i feel pretty meh. so if tattoos aren't addicting to you like they are to me and if you were nervous before having it done, i could see feeling kinda sick afterwards.

Alright, thanks guys. Since I last came on, my anxiety about this has really gone down. I doubt i'll get myself tested if there's nothing to worry about. All my friends go to this guy and even after they've seen me freaking out about HIV they still go to him, so they must trust him to clean his stuff. And just out of curiousity, if anyone happens to know, is it common knowledge, even amongst unlisenced tattoo artists, to clean the ink tube?

ok initially i was just curious but today I looked down and lo and behold I had a rash or something on my leg. Problem is, i don't know if it's actually a rash. Its a couple raised bumps about an inch apart. There cant be more then 5 of them. It almost looks like acne. Could this be a potential sign of the rash associated with ARS? I know I have nothing to worry about, but I'm a hypochondriac and I REALLY dont want to get tested. Does that even sound like a rash? I mean, for all I know those could've been there for a while, I just never noticed. It's been 4 months almost since I got my tattoo...this can't possible be ARS right?

oh yeah, and now in addition to the potential rash (see post below), I'm having diahrea. I'm starting to think I need to get tested now. I think I also have OCD....maybe that's the problem. What to do?

this can't possibly be ARS can it? I mean, it's been for months since I got the stupid tattoo

I'm not so worried about hepatitis, just HIV because that girl 3 weeks prior had it... how much blood can hide in the ink tubes?

you don't seem to accept the answers that are given, so my only advice to you is to get tested and maybe you will believe that,if not after a test then you should seek counseling.
good luck to you

you don't seem to accept the answers that are given, so my only advice to you is to get tested and maybe you will believe that,if not after a test then you should seek counseling.
good luck to you

Agreed.

yeah....sorry, I'll stop worrying. I'm sorry...I have a girlfriend and I just worry about her, the last thing I want is to get her infected, but you guys are right, I have nothing to worry about. Thanks, I appreciate the info.

you don't need to be sorry, just think about it rationally with the facts you know and you shouldn't be concerned at all. alot of misinformation and fear about hiv is out there just don't get caught up in the hype and stick with the facts and you should know you will be fine.
if you get a chance poke around the us gov cdc web site its one of the best places to get real facts with out the hype or bull poop.(tryin to keep it clean lol)

thanks man i owe you haha

i did hear from professionals that hiv can live outside the body for up to 3 min, even if the guy who had a tattoo done before you was infected it seems impossible to pas it on espessially with a new needle. but other things like hepatitus can live outside the body for upto 2 weeks, to to scare you but be carefull.

i did hear from professionals that hiv can live outside the body for up to 3 min, even if the guy who had a tattoo done before you was infected it seems impossible to pas it on espessially with a new needle. but other things like hepatitus can live outside the body for upto 2 weeks, to to scare you but be carefull.

i don't know how many times i can say that there isn't ONE recorded case of hiv transmission from tattooing :mad: the worry should be about hep.. NOT HIV

I'm not even worried about it! I didn't bring it up D=

And I never was worried about hep because she didn't have it.
HIV WAS my concern. I'm not worried about it anymore. If they ever find out that someone DID get HIV from a tattoo, then I'll worry, but I'm fine, and I don't even care to get tested.

i was refering to the post i quoted, after all that was said, he still infers that there is a chance when in reality thier isn't any.

No, I know. I just don't know why people keep bringing up this thread. I'm really not worried anymore. I thought about it rationally and it's done with. I'd suggest deleting this thread, but then again, it might help someone else who was in my situation. Can we lock this thread or something?