posted
Hello again. Sorry if this is tmi. I just started my period and went to the public restroom in a store today. After I finished I noticed two drops of blood on the floor so I assumed it was from me and got some toilet paper and wiped them. I checked my fingers afterward because it struck me that it could potentially be someone else's blood and didn't notice any blood on them. However I do have two small cuts further up on my fingers like near the first knuckles so I don't think any could have gotten up there but if this was someone else's blood is there any risk of HIV transmission? Or hepatitis transmission?
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Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
HIV isn't transmited through the skin. So, unless someone else's bodily fluids came into direct contact with an open cut on your hand, which it sounds like it did not, there is no risk in this situation you describe.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4329 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
I didn't think so. And while I'm pretty sure the area where the cuts are didn't touch the blood on the floor, even if they had, would that be an example of direct contact or no?
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Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
You'd really need to have an open cut, but since you're sure that that area didn't come into contact with the blood, it's not something you need to worry about.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4329 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
Right. And I'm sorry I'm really not trying to push anything, but if it had come in contact, because I'm not 100% sure it didn't, would there be a risk? I'm not sure if this contact is "direct" or not and that's what I want to know.
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Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
Last time you posted here, you were working on going for a STI screening. What ended up happening with that?
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4329 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
I was screened fully and was negative but obviously can't be screened again until awhile after a risk so do you think you could answer my question in my last response?
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posted
and I just examined my fingers again to be sure I didn't miss any cuts and I saw one that could have touched the blood but its so superficial you can tell its barely even a cut anymore like it has no scab and isn't deep enough to bleed or hurt. So with that info, would it be a risk?
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Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
Glad to hear you were able to get tested.
As I said above, it would need to be an open cut--a pathway if you will, to the bloodstream. That's not what you're describing.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4329 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
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posted
I see. So no risk with any of the scenarios I described? Thank you a lot. Believe it or not I hate to worry - I just need solid yes or no answers in order to not worry. And also thank you for asking me to get tested because afterward life became so much happier.
Posts: 421 | From: usa | Registered: Jul 2009
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Robin Lee
Volunteer Assistant Director
Member # 90293
posted
I'm glad to hear the testing relieved your anxiety and stress around this.
-------------------- Robin Posts: 4329 | From: Washington DC suburbs | Registered: Dec 2011
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