Expert: Kristen Brannock, MPH - 10/2/2010

Question
I was in a taxi on my way into town for a night out. As we pulled up at our destination i dropped some money underneath the seat i then stuck my hand under the seat to try and get the money to find a sharp pain in the end of my finger when i then looked my finger was bleeding. I did not see what it was that caused this but there is no visable cut to my finger.

i am worried that it could of been from a disgarded needle or a syringe or something and that i may have caught something such as HIV or hepatitis? what are te chances of this?

Answer
If you think about it, the chances that you cut your hand on a needle is moderate to low and if it was a needle, the chance it was used by a person with HIV is moderate to low. The chance that the needle held HIV+ blood is low. It's not likely period.

But- if there was a needle and there was HIV+ blood then there is always chance- although, even then, it is low. The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested.