Is it possible to transmit HIV through the cuts in hand?

Hello doctor,

I want to ask is it possible for me to transmit HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) through hand cut, (I have attached a picture) because I had anxiety when shaking hands. I am almost certainly HIV negative according to tests, but still anxious. Kindly advice.

Thank you.

Hi doctor,

I meant that such an old cut with little blood on it, as in the picture, could transmit HIV to someone. If I am HIV positive and the other person is negative, with a cut on their hand, what will happen if we meet?

Thank you.

Hi doctor,

If there is no blood coming from my cut and if the person I would shake hands would have cut that bleed and we shake the hand and if cuts touch, is it impossible for HIV to get transmitted?

Thank you.

Hi doctor,

I am not worried about me but about the other people that I might infect them although I am almost certainly HIV negative still there is chance. Could my cut infect the person I shook hand with? If they have cut too and bleeding?

Thank you.

Hello Doctor,

Recently, I have been afraid I could have infected my roommates. I probably am HIV negative as tests 1 and 3 months negative. However, after masturbation at night, some semen was still on my hand when I went to the toilet approximately 10 minutes after I finished. I touched the door knobs in the bathroom with my hand; after peeing, I washed my hands with water and felt the door again. Some semen might stay on my hand and then on the door knobs. I am not sure if my roommates went to the bathroom after this and touched the door, but I went back and washed the door knobs with alcohol about 30 mins after this. Still, they might be there right after me. Supposing they had a fresh cut on their hand, could I theoretically transmit the virus to them? I do not know if I should ask them if they were in the bathroom then, as it would be weird, and I do not think they would remember. Because if there is some chance, I should tell them to get tested for HIV, as I could be positive even after three months of negative tests. Is there any chance of transmission if I would be positive?

Thank you.

Hi doctor,

Thank you for the answer. So, I do not have to ask them or tell them to get tested, as they are not at risk, right?

Thank you .

Hi Doctor,

I wonder if it is impossible to transfer HIV from an inanimate object. Because now, I am not sure. For example, I read online that HIV can survive outside the body in blood or semen for up to seven days in the right conditions. I am now rubbing alcohol often on my hands to prevent spreading any semen on the bathroom door handle. Also, if there is dried-out semen for like 8 hours - of night's sleep and then going to the bathroom without alcohol rub in the morning and touching the door, I guess it can still be active. I do not know if I should continue with alcohol because the bathroom is outside my room, and sometimes I forget. On the internet forums, I found that all responses said there were no transmissions like this reported yet (from the inanimate object) and that HIV dies out quickly when exposed to the air in blood or semen (I do not know why the difference with research mentioned). Does it mean this transmission just has not been reported but is possible? For example, if someone has a large cut on the hand and then touches the door with semen, I guess transfer is possible. Should I continue with alcohol when I could have new or old semen on my hand or touch my penis when there could be semen and then touch some door handle?

Thank you.

Hi doctor,

Would it not is tough to design such a study because no one would want to deliberately touch HIV-infected fluid on the doors or other objects with a cut on the hand in case they get infected? But if there are no transmission reports this way, I guess it means something. Maybe there is never enough fluid or a big enough cut, or HIV dies early when exposed to air.

Thank you.

Hi doctor,

Can you please provide a link to that study? I was not able to find it.

Thank you.