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Can Old Blood Stain Transfer HIV And Hepatitis C To Me Because I Slept Naked ?
Posted on
Fri, 20 Jun 2025
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 20 Jun 2025
Answered on
4 days ago
Last reviewed on
Question : Hi Dr
I rented a room , the mattress has an old stain ( picture uploaded ) , I complained and the landlord bought me a new water resident fitting bed cover and new linens.
The problems that I sometimes sleep naked because it is hot here. I slept while the mattress is covered with both water resistant mattress cover and a linen. I don’t know if that old stain was blood or dirt or juice spill ( I have no idea) .
Assume if that is old blood stain can it transfer HIV and hepatitis C to me because I slept naked ? I am only concerned about HIV and hepatitis C. Thank you.
I rented a room , the mattress has an old stain ( picture uploaded ) , I complained and the landlord bought me a new water resident fitting bed cover and new linens.
The problems that I sometimes sleep naked because it is hot here. I slept while the mattress is covered with both water resistant mattress cover and a linen. I don’t know if that old stain was blood or dirt or juice spill ( I have no idea) .
Assume if that is old blood stain can it transfer HIV and hepatitis C to me because I slept naked ? I am only concerned about HIV and hepatitis C. Thank you.
I don’t know how old is the stain by the way but it looks old.
Brief Answer:
Chances of Transmission of HIV is almost NIL and HCV is negligible.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to ASK A DOCTOR,
Thanks for posting your query.
HIV is a highly friable virus. It can't survive outside the body fluids not more than few minutes. Even in a body fluid once it gets dried, there is no chance for a viable virus. So the the transmission of HIV is almost nil through a stain in the linen, even if it is due to blood.
HCV can be viable for few months in a dried blood sample, but very much unlikely in a stain of either mattress or bed spread. Especially if it get washed and dried over sunlight or got ironed even if lie without clothes over your body. So the transmission is very much unlikely through the way mentioned by you.
DR S. Murugan
Chances of Transmission of HIV is almost NIL and HCV is negligible.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to ASK A DOCTOR,
Thanks for posting your query.
HIV is a highly friable virus. It can't survive outside the body fluids not more than few minutes. Even in a body fluid once it gets dried, there is no chance for a viable virus. So the the transmission of HIV is almost nil through a stain in the linen, even if it is due to blood.
HCV can be viable for few months in a dried blood sample, but very much unlikely in a stain of either mattress or bed spread. Especially if it get washed and dried over sunlight or got ironed even if lie without clothes over your body. So the transmission is very much unlikely through the way mentioned by you.
DR S. Murugan
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T
Answered by
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