Hello, I've done some research through the site about exposure to dried blood coming in contact with fresh cuts and have read it's a zero risk situation to contract HIV, but I suppose assurance is everything.
3 months ago I was doing a photoshoot on location, a homeless man nearby offered the model a safety pin to hold a flower in her hair. She took it and used it. Nice gesture, nice guy. Fast forward....I later helped her remove the pin and got nicked by it, small cut, drew a thin layer of blood on my finger. I then noticed the pin had red/brown stains all over it (possibly rust, but looked more like dried blood). This was on the outside edges of the pin, not on the sharp part that actually cut my skin.
but if the dried blood happened to be from an HIV+ person and it somehow came in contact with my pierced skin or somehow got into my bloodstream (the cut was very small), this is still a non-existent, zero-risk situation? From what I've read I'm pretty clear testing is not necessary. I had stopped thinking about it a while ago, but I just recently met a girl who I like a lot and before i engage in any sexual situations, I was reminded of the dried blood/pin incident and wanted to get more clarity before i do go further with her. Plus a week after the incident, I got a sinus infection/head cold that lasted a week. Probably not related, but you know, the mind connects things.
so yeah, it was obviously still at the back of my mind since i started thinking about it again. Rather be 100% clear so asking.
Thank you, apologies for a question you seem to receive quite a bit