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Can HIV Be Contracted Through Contact Of Foreign Blood On Open Wound?

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Posted on Tue, 3 Feb 2015
Question: I want to know if you have a fresh wound or cut on your ear, an it's bleeding an you get a kleenex an didn't know it had blood on it an you took it an wipe it across your open wound are cut, can you catch hiv like that are be exposed to hiv like that?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (58 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
highly unlikely

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

It would depend on the length of time the blood was on the tissue.

HIV,and other infectious pathogens can only survive a certain amount of time on environmental surfaces.

According to medical studies, HIV virus is fragile. It is destroyed by heat, pH less than 8.
Normally it is dried on surfaces and the amount is decreased by 90 to 99% after a few hours according the CDC, though a small amount will remain.

If the blood present for a few hours then it would have dried and the amount of HIV would have decreased very significantly, if present.

At present there are no documented cases of transmission from environmental surfaces so it is a theoretical risk at the moment.

Summary: HIV does not survive well in the environment so it is highly unlikely for transmission to occur

If you remain unsure then there are HIV test that can very accurately determine HIV status by 2 to 3 weeks after exposure. RNA tests , PCR tests.

I hope this helps , feel free to ask any other questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (2 hours later)
Hey Dr XXXXXXX I'm worried a hold hold lot. ..I can't eat nor sleep behind this question I'm about to ask.ok if you have a open wound or cut on your an it's bleeding a little, an you take a kleenex that have infective blood on it an you didn't know it to the last minute. An you wipe across your small bleeding wound or small bleeding cut.can hiv be transmitted like that? Or can you be exposed to hiv like that?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (18 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
very very low risk

Detailed Answer:
HI

It is understandable to be concerned

As mentioned , the risk is very very low because HIV virus does not survive well in the environment and as yet, there are no cases of environmental transmission.

Your risk is very low.

If the person is HIV positive or you remain concerned then to ease your mind you can do HIV testing in 2 to 3 weeks using one of the tests mentioned above.

Please feel free to ask anything else
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Michelle Gibson James (1 hour later)
Thanks Mrs XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
ok

Detailed Answer:
HI

No problem

You can contact with any queries
Note: Get personalized answers to your HIV related queries You can choose to talk face to face with your doctor. Book a Video Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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