Expert: John Thai, M.D. - 6/10/2010

Question
Dear Doctor,

Not sure why my question was not addressed. Could you please respond to my query? The other two volunteers on this website are on vacation. I am desperate here. Would really appreciate your help. Thank you.

"I recently started volunteering as a student in a HIV clinic in my hometown in India. I am still educating myself about HIV. Yesterday, on the way out, a HIV+ patient shook my hands rather vigorously. Immediately thereafter, I stupidly used my hand to rub my right eye because something had gone into it. It was a natural reaction. I do not know how unclean the hands of the HIV+ person was i.e. having blood or semen on it (assuming the worst), but while I know that HIV is not passed by shaking hands, can it be transmitted by my hand rubbing the eyes? There are cases of people being infected through the eyes because it is a mucous membrane. Appreciate your advice on this matter, please: Am I at risk for HIV, and should I go for a HIV test? Thank you so very much!"

Answer
hi bob,

your question was answered twice within the past week. again, hiv cannot be transmitted by touching or shaking an hiv+ person's hands. there are no known cases of such transmission from shaking an individual's hand and rubbing it in one's eyes.