No fault but still risk?

[kya_re]

Hello, I'm 24 year old virgin guy. No oral, no kissing, no sexual history at all. I'm staying virgin by choice to wait for the right woman. Anyhow, here is my situation.

Last month, my uncle visited me. He is gay and I know that for a fact. Not sure about his HIV status but he is single and to my knowledge he sees many random gay guys.

While he was staying at my place, one day he used my Gillette Mach 3 razor in the morning without my knowledge. I work 2nd shift so in the afternoon I shaved my face using the same razor and went to the work. Later on when I returned, my uncle told me that earlier in the morning he used my razor and forgot to let me know.

This is exactly what happened:
1) My uncle used the razor in the morning (between 8 and 9 am)
2) He did cut himself (he did admit that he cut himself after shaving)
3) He did not wash the razor after shaving since he was in a rush
4) I used the same razor in the afternoon (around 2 pm)
5) I did was the razor inside out with hot water (I always rinse the razor before shaving)
6) While shaving I also cut my face (I can see the blood dripping from the cut)

This is what scares me the most. I know that HIV virus begins to die once outside of the living host however the razor itself was still wet around 2 pm. I mean the razor wasn't completely dry when I started using it. The razor was sitting next to the sink on the marble surface and there were few drops of water next to the razor. So, I know for a fact that razor wasn't dry when I started to shave.

What is in my favor is the time. There was almost 6 hours before I used the same wet razor. And, the second thing in my favor was that there was no visible blood on the razor (unless if the blood is hidden inside of multiple blades).Third thing in my favor was that I washed the razor precisely then proceed with shaving.

With this in mind, am I at risk? It would be extremely unfair for me to get infected this way.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Your welcome.  Glad my comments were helpful. EWH

[kya_re]

Before writing this question, I did call him and he did say that he is "healthy as a horse". He further told me that he is required to get a medical card which does his blood work. He drives a semi truck and he is a commercial driver. So, he told me that he is required to have DOT medical card and that is basically a physical test that he needs to renew every two years. He told me that they check for everything in that.

Regardless, reading from your response it looks like that 6 hour interval is the key. That long of a time would virtually kill any virus present. That assures me. I just wanted to get that clarification. Because I was thinking that virus would still be alive in somewhat wet condition.

Your response assures me though. Don't really want to go through testing in unwarranted situation. Just wanted to get medical prospective on the scenario.

Thank You

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum. There is no appreciable risk for HIV from the events you describe.  You do not know that your Uncle has HIV and the fact is that most men who have sex with other men do not have HIV.  

The CDC and official organizations warn against sharing razors because of theoretical concerns about spreading HIV and other infections (hepatitis) but the fact is that there are few if any cases in which transmission has occurred in this way. This is because, as you point out, the virus dies almost immediately upon contact with the environment. The 6 hours interval between your uncle's use of your razor and your shaving virtually assures you that there was no infectious virus present when you shave despite the fact that each of you cut yourselves shaving, in the unlikely circumstance that he does have HIV.  I have never encountered a patient who acquired HIV in this way.  

The best and most comforting thing you could do in this situation is ask your uncle about his status and, if he has not been tested, ask him to test. This is far easier than worrying about this event.  EWH