Risk of HIV through rubber tubes

[tboyz]

Dear Doctor,

I went with my friend to a hospital in a developing country about 7 pm last night & the doctor asked him to take a blood test.

We went to the common blood test area & I stood with him at the counter. I placed my hands on the counter and the nurse took an old rubber tube which was also placed on the counter to tie around my friends' upper arm before drawing blood.  As he took the rubber tube, the rubber tube came into contact and brushed my hand. I noticed my hand had a small cut of about half a centre metre in diameter which could have been cut about perhaps 20mins before the incident or even earlier in the evening or day.  The rubber tube may have come into contact with my cut.

I proceeded to check the old rubber tube, holding it with my fingers.  I'm not too sure if there was fresh blood or old dried blood. But since this tube was used to tie many other patients' arms for blood tests, I'm worried that there may be fresh or most probably old dried blood of previous patients. I then proceeded to wash my hands half a minute after checking the rubber tube.

I would like to know
1) Am I at risk of HIV or hepatitis if the rubber tube had the blood of a HIV infected person who took a blood test a few minutes ago and the rubber tube came into contact with my cut?
2) Am I at risk of HIV or hepatitis if the rubber tube had old dried blood of a HIV infected person and the rubber tube had came into contact with my cut?
3) By using my fingers to check the rubber tube and then washing my fingers and hands with water only, is it possible that HIV virus can infect my cut with the water flowing from my fingers to the cut on my hand?
4) must i go for a HIV test?

I read HIV can be spread via sharing works with HIV infectious individuals. I understand that needles of syringes are such works but not sure if such rubber tubes fall under this category. I am worried that HIV may be spread through cuts.

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

How could the tube cut you, for goodness' sake!  It's rubber!!

Stop overthinking this.  There is no extenuating circumstance that will come to your mind that would change my opinion or advice, so there's no point in asking anything else -- and I won't reply anyway.  Suck it up and move on.

[tboyz]

Dear Doctor Hunter,

Thanks for the reply.

Just a final question, if it was the rubber tube that cut me, would I still be at risk of HIV?

I just cannot recall when I was cut on my hand

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

"am I at risk if the rubber tube had fresh or old dried blood of a HIV infected person and the rubber tube had came into contact with my cut?"

Already covered in my; I read your entire question carefully.  No risk.

[tboyz]

Dear Doctor Hunter,

Thanks for the reply.

Just a clarification, am I at risk if the rubber tube had fresh or old dried blood of a HIV infected person and the rubber tube had came into contact with my cut?

This is because the cloth that my friend rested his arm upon to draw blood had blood stains. And I think the rubber tube or tourniquets may also have blood stains.

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome back to the forum.

There is absolutely no risk from the events you have described.  The only way someone can catch HIV through blood drawing or injection is if the needle itself, or the syringe, is contaminated with HIV.  The same is true of hepatitis B and C.  The shared injection works that spread HIV refers to needles and syringes, not tourniquets.

So you should not be at all worried and should not be tested for HIV, hepatitis, or anything else on account of this event.  It was entirely risk free.

Regards--  HHH, MD