Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Are The Chances Of HIV Transmission Through Tools Used In Manicure?
Question: I was recently getting a manicure and got cut by the tools around my thumbnail. I know the tools were clean and sterilized. I was bleeding and so the the manicurist lifted my thumbnail with her fingernail to assess the cut. She then pressed down on the cut with her finger. If the manicurist had any open, bleeding cuts that came into contact with my bleeding cut, am I at risk of HIV? I have read many differentiating things on cut to cut or blood to blood contact and was wondering if I need to get tested and what my risk is?
Brief Answer:
Almost zero chances to get HIV
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
blood to blood is the most efficient way of HIV transmission but your description makes it rather difficult. If the tools were sterilized and clean, as you mentioned, then there is no reason for you to worry. You were bleeding, which means that blood came out of your toe. If the manicurist had a bleeding wound you would have noticed it. Transmission requires injection of viruses into the body. As you describe it the worst thing that might have happened is that the manicurist came into contact with your blood while it was already out of your body (and wouldn't get into it again, of course). So the transmission risk is negligible. Some sort of piercing so that the viruses could be injected into the body is usually needed for transmission to happen.
If you'd like to investigate your risk further then you should make sure if the manicurist actually had bleeding cuts and if they came into contact with your wound.
I do not believe that testing is warranted but you may check for antibodies now and after 3-6 months.
I hope I've helped!
If you'd like more information, please use your follow-up questions.
I'll be glad to help.
Kind Regards!
Almost zero chances to get HIV
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
blood to blood is the most efficient way of HIV transmission but your description makes it rather difficult. If the tools were sterilized and clean, as you mentioned, then there is no reason for you to worry. You were bleeding, which means that blood came out of your toe. If the manicurist had a bleeding wound you would have noticed it. Transmission requires injection of viruses into the body. As you describe it the worst thing that might have happened is that the manicurist came into contact with your blood while it was already out of your body (and wouldn't get into it again, of course). So the transmission risk is negligible. Some sort of piercing so that the viruses could be injected into the body is usually needed for transmission to happen.
If you'd like to investigate your risk further then you should make sure if the manicurist actually had bleeding cuts and if they came into contact with your wound.
I do not believe that testing is warranted but you may check for antibodies now and after 3-6 months.
I hope I've helped!
If you'd like more information, please use your follow-up questions.
I'll be glad to help.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
I was not really looking at the manicurist hands because I was looking at my cut instead. I did notice her hands looked very dry. Let's just say she did have a bleeding cut as well, and the two cuts came into contact. Is that potential risk for transmission? Would I need testing?
Brief Answer:
I still believe you don't
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the worst possible scenario for you is that she had a bleeding cut and her tool was contaminated and then (with her tool) she injected the viruses into your body by cutting you close to your nail. A direct cut to cut contact would seem really strange and is not the worst case.
Let me comment on the risk of transmission now.
The worst scenario that I've described above, would bear a less than 1% risk of transmission (probably around 0,3%). The highest possible risk is with deep cuts and tools with visible infected blood on them. Your case is probably even less worrying than that, so although this is a very serious diagnosis that could change your life forever, the chances that you did acquire HIV are so low that worries are not reasonably justified. Also please remember that the manicurist should be HIV positive in order to transmit the virus, which is also a hypothesis.
Since you live in a country that HIV is not so prevalent, the combination of risks for a HIV positive patient transmitting the disease to you, through this series of events, is most likely close to zero!
You could probably ask - politely - the manicurist to do a test and share the results with you. She can refuse of course but since she cut you, I suppose she would feel bad enough to agree.
As I wrote before, you can do a test now and in 6 months if you'd like to be sure and also consult an infectious diseases specialist but I doubt the specialist would order the tests for any reason other than to reassure you.
Please contact me, if you need more clarifications.
Kind Regards!
I still believe you don't
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
the worst possible scenario for you is that she had a bleeding cut and her tool was contaminated and then (with her tool) she injected the viruses into your body by cutting you close to your nail. A direct cut to cut contact would seem really strange and is not the worst case.
Let me comment on the risk of transmission now.
The worst scenario that I've described above, would bear a less than 1% risk of transmission (probably around 0,3%). The highest possible risk is with deep cuts and tools with visible infected blood on them. Your case is probably even less worrying than that, so although this is a very serious diagnosis that could change your life forever, the chances that you did acquire HIV are so low that worries are not reasonably justified. Also please remember that the manicurist should be HIV positive in order to transmit the virus, which is also a hypothesis.
Since you live in a country that HIV is not so prevalent, the combination of risks for a HIV positive patient transmitting the disease to you, through this series of events, is most likely close to zero!
You could probably ask - politely - the manicurist to do a test and share the results with you. She can refuse of course but since she cut you, I suppose she would feel bad enough to agree.
As I wrote before, you can do a test now and in 6 months if you'd like to be sure and also consult an infectious diseases specialist but I doubt the specialist would order the tests for any reason other than to reassure you.
Please contact me, if you need more clarifications.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you for your response.
I do know that the manicure tools were new and clean.
I am only worried because I did not notice my cut until I was leaving the salon. So the manicurist had to come from the back room to assess it. I have no way of knowing if she had cut herself back there.
I have read many things about broken skin and hiv transmission. So I am worried about my bleeding cut and her potential bleeding cut coming into contact. If the two cuts did contact and push together, would my risk still be as low?
I do know that the manicure tools were new and clean.
I am only worried because I did not notice my cut until I was leaving the salon. So the manicurist had to come from the back room to assess it. I have no way of knowing if she had cut herself back there.
I have read many things about broken skin and hiv transmission. So I am worried about my bleeding cut and her potential bleeding cut coming into contact. If the two cuts did contact and push together, would my risk still be as low?
Brief Answer:
Yes, the risk is very very low
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Nobody can give you a 100% yes or no. We are talking about risk which means that everything is possible. But if you're worrying that you might have contracted HIV, this would be equivalent to getting hit by a piano falling from the fifth floor while walking on the pavement! The chances are almost zero. Please don't torture yourself with that.
I've described the worst scenario to you. Everything else makes transmission even less probable!
In any case do test for HIV just for your peace of mind and you may ask the manicurist to do so as well - perhaps you could explain to her how worried you are and offer to cover the cost of testing for her.
I'm sure both results would be negative. You can repeat your test in 6 months for a 100% reassurance. But please don't be so worried in the meantime. Medicine is all about risk. You can't worry for the slightest probability.
I hope I've been reassuring enough!
PS I'm sorry for the 5 hour delay - I understand how you feel right now. It's just a huge time difference between your location and mine.
Kind Regards!
Yes, the risk is very very low
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Nobody can give you a 100% yes or no. We are talking about risk which means that everything is possible. But if you're worrying that you might have contracted HIV, this would be equivalent to getting hit by a piano falling from the fifth floor while walking on the pavement! The chances are almost zero. Please don't torture yourself with that.
I've described the worst scenario to you. Everything else makes transmission even less probable!
In any case do test for HIV just for your peace of mind and you may ask the manicurist to do so as well - perhaps you could explain to her how worried you are and offer to cover the cost of testing for her.
I'm sure both results would be negative. You can repeat your test in 6 months for a 100% reassurance. But please don't be so worried in the meantime. Medicine is all about risk. You can't worry for the slightest probability.
I hope I've been reassuring enough!
PS I'm sorry for the 5 hour delay - I understand how you feel right now. It's just a huge time difference between your location and mine.
Kind Regards!
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. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
