How much risk is infection through a closing cut?

[frost123]

Hi everyone, this question comes form a place of anxiety in general. But a week ago my housemate brought home a tinder date and he broke a glass and cut his hand. I helped him clean up but there was a lot a blood. We had been drinking so exactly what happened is a bit blurry. I’m not sure how much contact I had with his blood. I helped him put a bandaid on etc but I’m not sure if I actually touched his blood or not. I cut my finger open earlier that day and while it was not bleeding anymore and had started to scab it was still a cut in my hand. As far as I know he’s not HIV positive and my friend said she’d ask him when she sees him Sunday. What is the risk and am I completely stupid to be panicking or is some panic warranted?

[Paxiled]

There's no HIV risk here, but you might want to make sure there's no covid risk.

[frost123]

Thanks! Am I right in understanding there’s no risk of HIV because the blood would have touched the air between his cut and mine? I want to educate myself on the risks a bit more.

[frost123]

As for covid, myself  and my third  house mate already gave the one who invited this guy an earful and she promised not to invite people over anymore which is the best I can do for that now (although I already had covid so hopefully that means I can’t get it again but that’s a question for another forum)

[CurfewX]

That, and the only way wounds are considered any kind of risk for HIV is when there's a high volume of blood, involving serious injuries that would allow admission of the virus into the bloodstream.  We're talking about events such as a car accident involving two people in the same vehicle who experience injuries that require immediate medical attention to prevent loss of life or limbs.

There is no risk from any injuries that do not require immediate medical attention.  HIV does not easily transmit, and such injuries do not offer a pathway for HIV to enter the bloodstream.

[frost123]

Thanks CurfewX. That’s good to know and I’m glad I don’t have to worry it get tested. I appreciate everyone’s help and advice!

[AnxiousNoMore]

Your situation involves personal contact with an object in air  ( blood, maybe fluids from people's cuts spit, etc.). No hiv worries, because you can't get hiv from personal contact except unprotected penetrating vaginal or anal, neither of which you did and you didn't share hollow needles to inject with which is the only other way to acquire hiv. Analysis of large numbers of infected people over the 40 years of hiv history has proven that people don't get hiv in the way you are worried is a risk.
HIV is a fragile virus in air or saliva and is effectively instantly dead in either air or saliva so the worst that could happen is dead virus rubbed you, and obviously anything which is dead cannot live again so you are good. Blood and cuts would not be relevant in your situation since the hiv has become effectively dead, so you don't have to worry about them to be sure that you are safe.
There is no reason for a person to test when they are safe. The advice took into consideration that the other person might be positive, so move on and enjoy life instead of thinking about this non-event. hiv prevention is straightforward since there are only 3 ways you can become infected, so next time you wonder if you had a risk, ask yourself this QUESTION. "Did I do any of the 3?" Then after you say "No, I didn't" you will know that it's time to move on back to your happy life.

[frost123]

Thanks you for the advice. I can ask myself that question whenever I feel like I’m starting to panic and at least now I know I don’t have to get tested. I really appreciate your answer.