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Can Infections Be Transmitted Through Superficial Cuts On Hand?

Posted on Tue, 23 Dec 2014

Question: If one had a superficial cut like a paper cut on the hand and was not bleeding and come into contact with a small amount of wet infected blood could one become infected?

Secondly, I was told that after 25 days most people who were going to test positive would show the anti-bodies by now.
They also said that the swab test was very accurate.

Thank you for taking my concerns.

Answered by Dr. Divakara (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes infection can happen.

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Thanks for posting your query.

Yes there is a possibility of getting infected. Though the chances are less but it's still there.

Coming to your second query it varies from one infection to another. I need to know which infection you are talking about.

Kindly let me know.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Divakara (36 minutes later)

My second question was about aids infection that 25 days after most people who are going to turn positive do so and the antibodies show up.

My third question was that the swab test for aids is very accurate so I have been told.

Regarding my first question ,about the possibility of aids infection from a superficial cut and coming into contact with wet aids ,even though it was a small amount ,I thought that was intact skin and there was only a very chance of infection.

Does not the aids virus become non-infectious when out of the body in minutes as there is no host to replicate in?

Thanks again

Answered by Dr. Divakara (21 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Intact skin , no chance of infection.

Detailed Answer:
HI

You are absolutely right about hiv/253657?iL=true" >Aids virus , when out of human body it doesn't become non infectious but it dies. But for that we need to know for how long the blood was exposed outside.

Coming to chance of infection if there is a break in skin and exposure to blood then there is a chance of getting infected with HIV. ( though less ) If skin is intact then there is no chance .

As of test is concerned a test called Western Blot will give positive results with 48-72 hours while other tests like ELISA will take 3-4 weeks to be positive.

If you want to get tested I advise you to get Western blot test.

Hope this information was useful to you.

Any clarification feel free to ask .

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Divakara (21 hours later)

I wrote that the aids virus when out of the body becomes non-infectious in minutes as there no host to replicate it.

You wrote back that the virus dies but is still infectious. That makes no sense or did you make a mistake in typing and mean non-infectious?

My other ? was is the swab test accurate?

Do not most people who are going to turn positive in 25 days?

XXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Divakara (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Virus outside is both dead and non infectious.

Detailed Answer:
HI

What I meant was the virus dies outside the body and hence becomes non infectious and it remains infectious till it is alive . Ok bottom line outside the body of host the virus dies and becomes non infectious.

There is no swab test for HIV . Whatever test is done it is done on Blood . Most people become positive by 3 weeks but not all , so a negative test at end of 25 days will not guarantee that person is 100% negative.

Just tell me when you got exposed and I shall tell you what test you need to get done .

Hope I am clear .

Any clarifications feel free to ask .

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar