# HIV passed threw blood **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 12, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiv-passed-threw-blood/160859 "2003-03-12T16:37:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiv-passed-threw-blood/160859/1 "2003-03-12T16:37:23Z")
I’m just curious, how much HIV+ blood does one need to come in contact with in order to contract the virus? For example, say I’m hanging with a friend who is HIV+, and they accidentally cut off their index finger (say we’re hanging out with a table saw). Now, if I have a small cut on my hand (nothing deep), but pick up the finger to put it on ice and call the paramedics, am I at high risk, or am I pretty much safe? How much of the virus is enough to turn into full blown HIV? The way things are made out, it seems that if one little virus gets into your body, you’re screwed, but I can’t believe it’s that bad if they’re testing innoculations. Anyone got some extensive knowledge they’d care to share? ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiv-passed-threw-blood/160859/2 "2003-03-12T17:00:39Z")
IANA doctor but HIV can’t survive outside of the human body for very long, though in the scenario you described there is certainly a possibitly you could contract HIV if your friend blood got into your open cut. In this situation the hospital would almost certainly adminster anti-HIV treatment straight away that should get rid of the virus (as long as treatment is received quick enough). ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2003, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiv-passed-threw-blood/160859/3 "2003-03-12T17:33:15Z")
From the [CDC](http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pubs/facts/transmission.htm): > [@](#): > > Scientists and medical authorities agree that HIV does not survive well in the environment, making the possibility of environmental transmission remote. HIV is found in varying concentrations or amounts in blood, semen, vaginal fluid, breast milk, saliva, and tears. (See page 3, Saliva, Tears, and Sweat.) To obtain data on the survival of HIV, laboratory studies have required the use of artificially high concentrations of laboratory-grown virus. Although these unnatural concentrations of HIV can be kept alive for days or even weeks under precisely controlled and limited laboratory conditions, CDC studies have shown that drying of even these high concentrations of HIV reduces the amount of infectious virus by 90 to 99 percent within several hours. Since the HIV concentrations used in laboratory studies are much higher than those actually found in blood or other specimens, drying of HIV-infected human blood or other body fluids reduces the theoretical risk of environmental transmission to that which has been observed–essentially zero. Incorrect interpretation of conclusions drawn from laboratory studies have unnecessarily alarmed some people. > > Results from laboratory studies should not be used to assess specific personal risk of infection because (1) the amount of virus studied is not found in human specimens or elsewhere in nature, and (2) no one has been identified as infected with HIV due to contact with an environmental surface. Additionally, HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions, therefore, it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host. In your scenario there is probably a higher risk of transmission because of the amount of blood and the open wound on your hand but unless the blood splashes directly on your cut you’re probably OK. If this happens, try to remember to pick up the finger with the palstic bag you’re going to use to transport the finger to the hospital. Wash your hands thoroughly ASAP and speak to your doctor to better assess the risk. Your doctor may put you on a prphylactic course of AZT or another anti-HIV drug just to err on the side of caution. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hiv-passed-threw-blood/160859/4 "2003-03-13T13:04:02Z")
Alrighty then. Thanks for the info.