Blood Contact!?!?!

[TTMG1984]

Thank you for taking the time to review my questions, I appreciate any/all responses.  I am an airline pilot and we were conducting annual training in the simulator.  I was paired up with another pilot.  Halfway through the simulator training my copilot got a bloody nose...bad...we paused the sim and I grabbed him some towels.

I noticed when I got back that he had wiped half the blood with his hands and was continuing to touch the flight controls with blood everywhere. 

I gave him the paper towels and we finished our training.  Didn't think anything of it until later that evening when I noticed no cuts on any of my fingers except I had a pretty bad cuticle on my ring finger.  It was reddish/white, it wasn't oozing; I'm pretty sure it was at least a couple of hours old. 

My questions are:
1.  I know when moving the flight controls I am pretty much using the palm of my hand.  I don't think he touched my hand when grabbing the towels, but it is possible that his hands or my hands came into contact with blood while moving controls.

2.  Is HIV concern and testing warranted?

3.  I understand from reading your "read it first" section that HIV transmission routes usually are unprotected sex, sharing needles, blood transfusion; however, what about contact of blood with open skin (cut or cuticle) on the fingers?

Thanks again. 

TTMG1984

[Andy Velez]

TT, you are worrying needlessly. HIV is a fragile virus and is not passed in ways you are concerned about. There is no need for testing. Let it go and get on with your life.

[TTMG1984]

Thank you sir for the response.  I appreciate the advice, I have read some places saying that even if I got his blood on my cuticle, I would need a vast cut!?  Is that accurate!?  Also, had anyone ever been infected via cuts/cuticles on fingers/hands?  Do cuts/cuticles heal immediately and protect skin!?

[Jeff G]

Thank you sir for the response.  I appreciate the advice, I have read some places saying that even if I got his blood on my cuticle, I would need a vast cut!?  Is that accurate!?  Also, had anyone ever been infected via cuts/cuticles on fingers/hands?  Do cuts/cuticles heal immediately and protect skin!?

Hi 1984 , HIV is acquired through Sharing IV drug needles immediately after use , unprotected anal and vaginal sex , Mother to child during or shortly after birth and
very specific healthcare situations. You do not have to worry about exposure through casual contact with people or things in our environment .

HIV is fragile , very fragile and is rendered unable to infect when exposed to oxygen instantly . Simply put , your concerns are not the way HIV exposure happens so therefor you did NOT have a risk .

ALTHOUGH YOU DO NOT NEED HIV TESTING AT THIS TIME, anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care checkup, including but not limited to HIV testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine checkups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine HIV tests to return with negative results.

Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than HIV. Some of the other STIs can be present with no obvious symptoms, so the only way to know for sure is to test.

Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, correctly and consistently, and you will avoid HIV infection. It really is that simple!
   

[TTMG1984]

Hello,

Not trying to bother anyone at all, just trying to get some amplifying information.  I have read that anytime there is blood on blood contact that there is a chance of infection.  Now I understand that blood from his nose would have to get on his hand...which it did.  Then blood on his hand would have to be passed onto the controls...which it did.  Then my hand would have to get blood right on my open cuticle.  I know this seems like 1 in a 1,000,000,000; I guess I've read about all these hypothetical/theories but I have not read anywhere where it has ACTUALLY happens. 

Just trying to get the truth and this place seems very knowledgeable and forthcoming about things.  Anyways, thank you for your time.

[Jeff G]

You are correct there are no case study's or evidence that people are falling over from a smear of AIDS on a cuticle . The world is safe in the knowledge that to be infected with HIV you must actually work for it by engaging in unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse , its not transmitted the lazy way by sticking your finger in it .

Of course you could get it by sharing IV drug injection equipment but that takes allot of work also .

You didn't have a risk by any scientific model or stretch of the imagination so you can put this fear away for good .