Dear doctor i went to a barbershop today and got a face clean up and shave done. while shaving i got a cut on my face and blood oozed out. now i am not worried about the blade as the blade was new and he took out in front of me. MY WORRY IS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CUT HE CLEANED MY FACE WITH A WET TOWEL. AFTER WIPING MY FACE I SAW THE TOWEL HAD RED STREAKS OF BLOOD. ALSO THE BARBER SHOP WAS SHABBY AND HE HAD ONLY TWO TOWELS IN THE SHOP AND WAS USING SAME TOWEL ON EVERY CUSTOMER. NOW I AM WORRIED WHAT IF THERE WAS SOMEBODYS HIV POSITIVE BLOOD ON THE TOWEL AND IT ENTERED MY CUT WHILE WIPING MY FACE WHICH ALREADY HAD A FRESH CUT. DO I NEED TESTING AND AM I AT RISK OF CONTRACTING HIV? I AM QUIET WORRIED? MY BEST REGARDS
2015-04-03 02:57:53
Welcome to the Forum. I see from reading your earlier interaction on the HIV Community site that that you worry quite a bit about HIV transmission through cuts an surface exposure. Please don't worry. HIV is ONLY transmitted in adults through ano-genital or genital-genital intercourse an through injection of the virus deep into tissue. Surface contact with blood or blood-soaked material is not infectious. In the case that you describe there is no risk of infection: 1. The blood you saw was probably not from a person with HIV. 2. Even if it was from someone with HIV the virus dies quickly in the environment and could not be transmitted to you this way. That you had a fresh cut does not change this. This event was no risk. You need not be concerned an do not need testing.
2015-04-03 02:58:26
