HIV from blood on card

[jb8]

Hi.

This may sound strange but it's just playing on my mind. A week or so ago I touched a card that had a red smear on it. I started to wonder if it were blood so went to wash my hands. I washed fairly well with soap and cold water as there was no hot, however I also went on to wash my arms (really not sure why)! Anyway, I splashed water up my arms, one of which had been used to donate blood about 3 weeks earlier. There was still a faint mark from this and I started to worry that this may be an issue as it was obviously on the vein. I guess the link to blood and veins and HIV transmission is causing me to be concerned. I'm aware that many factors are in play here and that my case is probably as much to do with undiagnosed OCD as anything but I just wanted the opinion of a healthcare professional. I didn't notice any blood on my hand and am not sure if it was blood or if I touched it but I'm still left wondering, what if?

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Also see this thread:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/Foreign-blood-on-lip/show/1671237

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.

Exposure to blood or body fluids in the environment -- especially if it has dried -- never transmits HIV, and nobody in the world has ever caught HIV from this sort of event.  There was for sure no risk even if the substance on the card was blood; even if it was HIV infected blood; even if you had not washed; even if you had overt, open, bleeding cuts on your hands; and even in any other circumstance you can possibly think of.

Regards--  HHH, MD