Expert: Terry B - 11/7/2008

Question
I went to the bathroom at the restroom in the school. After using the restroom and washing my hands, I noticed blood on the handle of the paper towel holder and on the floor...probably from a nose bleed. I am assuming it had been there for at least 20 minutes, but was not completely dry. I had a wound on my thumb that had bled a good bit the previous night. I put a bandaid on it. I did not notice blood on the bandaid, but I did not look at it until after I washed my hands, so it could have washed off. If I touched blood and it went through the bandaid, is there a possibility of HIV transmission? Thanks for your help!

Answer
Dear A:

Peace and all good things to you.  

The chances that the blood was from a person infected with HIV are roughly whatever the prevalence of the virus is in your geographic area, at worst nearing 40 percent.  The chance that such blood came into contact with your bandage is small, even if it did, the amount and duration of your exposure is minimal.  The chance that such blood passed through your bandage (and wasn't blocked or absorbed) further reduces the risk - no, I would say there is no reasonable chance of HIV infection in what you describe.

I hope that helps.

Best to you and yours,

Terry