I Went To A Pathology Lab For My Mother's Routine

Posted on Sun, 8 Mar 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 8 Mar 2020 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : I went to a pathology lab for my mother's routine blood tests. After the blood was taken from my mother I opened the band from her hands which was provided by the lab for vein visibility. I came to house and accidentally my finger got into the eyes of my 9 month old baby boy (didn't wash hands after coming from lab). I feared if there was any blood of any hiv patient which accidentally fell on that band and get into the small spaces of the band's plastic type surface and the blood might not be directly exposed to the air and if that blood cane to my inner part of finger nail (its also not exposed to air) then can hiv infect my baby through his eyes?

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
The way by which explained by youthere is no possibility of HIVtransmission

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
welcome to Ask A Doctor.
Thanks for posting your query.
HIV can not survive outside the body fluids for not more than few seconds.
This plaster strap was put over your mother's hand only and you know your mother is free from HIV Infection.
No other blood could remain there. Even if we consider the possibility it could not be infectious as HIV cannot thrive.
Morever after you reached your house only, your finger touched your baby's eye. So it is not possible to transmit the infection.
Dr S Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana

Follow up: Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (2 hours later)

Thanks a lot sir. As U said HIV can't survive outside body fluids but I feared if somebody else's blood come into the eyes of baby by the above mentioned medias without air exposure then is still the baby safe ????
I am worried for the baby only.

Answered by Dr. Sankaranantham Murugan (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Your baby has no risk for HIV infection.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome back.
Your baby is absolutely safe. In somebody else's blood, even if not exposed to air, HIV cannot survive for minutes. So not to worry. HIV transmission is not possible in this way.
Dr S Murugan

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj