HIV / Hep C From a Hangnail

[jacksmedulla]

I'm a phlebotomist at a hospital and for some stupid reason I was without gloves (which 90% of the time I am) and to top it all off my cotton fell on the floor I quickly grabbed another but the patient started to bleed a bit and I ended up getting a bit of blood on a nasty hangnail and quickly washed my hands.  I was not bleeding as far as I could tell however it was a little sore when I pulled on it and some skin was cut away.

the patient was elderly and had her daughter with her for a CBC, Lights & ECG test so shes not the type you would expect to have HIV or Hep C but she could of gotten it from a blood transfusion for all I know.  

For the sake of argument if she did have HIV or Hep C what are the odds of me contracting it?  I did eventually cut the hangnail off and all tho it was a little sore and (red from me picking at it worrying) I haven't seen it bleed.

Photos about 24h after I clipped the hangnail off.

[alienshadow]

none

[LIZZIE LOU]

no risk from a hangnail.

[Teak]

a phlebotomist at a hospital??? Get real.

[jacksmedulla]

Yes hospitals have there own Lab techs / phlebotomist to do blood work.

[snippets69]

Teak's point...Is that you're a phlebotomist and you don't know the basics of how HIV is transmitted (???) .  It really sounds quite silly.

Since no one's taught you yet.  No, you couldn't get HIV from this situation.  Go to Aidsmeds.com and take the tutorial.