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Avatar universal

do i Need to worry?

Hello drs
I went to a store down in newburry street and a guy cut himself while checking a knife. And just walked out 3 minutes later i didnt want to tuch the handle he touched so i used my arm that was covered with my shirt.  When i went home my wife freaked because the blood was visible from both sides.  So we look at my arm and it has a scratch maybe from the door handle.   Assuming the guy was positive , do i test o rush to the hospital? Or is it a no risk situation?
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300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad to help...Take care.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you dr. For your clear answer it was helful. Please have a great weekend
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for the clarification.  This is clearer.  No one has ever gotten HIV from transfer of blood from an inanimate object such as a door knob. counter top or toilet seat.  I would not consider this a risky event and if I were you would not seek testing for HIV.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello dr again
I will rewrite the events
1 blood was on the door knob
2 i used my sleeve to touch the knob to open the door
3 when i went home i saw that i had a small cut that coulv been due to me touching the door knob
Sorry to bother on a sunday
My questions are
1 is there a risk?
2 has anyone been infexcted with HIV from blood that was on a surface through their cuts?
Thank you and no further questions
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome  to our Forum.  I urge you not to worry.  There are several reasons that I say this.  For starters, the odds are quite low that this person ha HIV- few people do, thus I would challenge your assumption that he was positive as being illogical.  Second, although the circumstances of the events that occurred are not clear to me, it sounds like you may have gotten his blood on your shirt- no problem.  Even in the unlikely circumstance that he had HIV, getting blood on your shirt would not put you at risk for HIV.  While the moisture of the blood might pass through the material of your shirt, this virus would likely bind to the material.  Further the virus dies very quickly on exposure to the environment outside of the body.  Surface contamination with HIV infected blood has close to no risk for infection.

From what I understand of your question, there is no reason to worry an no need for testing.  

I hope this comment is helpful.  If you' like to clarify the events that occurred I will be willing to review your concerns again but I doubt that my assessment will change.  EWH
Helpful - 0

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