How long can hiv survive outside of the body. I have heard it can survive for only a few seconds and I have heard that it can survive for several minutes or more. What does everyone think?

The easy answer is: there are no easy answers.

Even the medical community as a whole can't seem to come up with a consistent answer to this question. The research that has been written is done from a "ratio standpoint" where they draw a conclusion that "if it takes a long time to die in the lab, it takes less time to die in a regular setting" which is totally unhelpful. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

A good deal of the research I've looked at makes a similar assumption that since it's not likely to catch HIV through direct membrane-fluid contact that it's even less likely to catch it through indirect contact.

Most people write off the possibility of contracting HIV through indirect contact as not significant enough to even warrant a test. At the same time, you shouldn't go intentionally exposing yourself to blood and body fluids even if they are outside the body if you want to be 100% safe.

But of course, I'm just restating what you already know. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif