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Can HIV Be Transmitted Through Hand Shake?

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Posted on Tue, 3 Mar 2015
Question: I visited XXXXXXX Fight, an HIV clinic, to obtain a 12 month past potential exposure Insta test (i sustained an arm injury one year ago and was taking the final HIV test). The tester, whom I found out later was both HIV pos and formerly incarcerated, did not take adequwuate precautions. He first tended to an ill and belligerent patient who was complaining of his eye infection. The tester shook the man's hand to calm him down. I was next taken into a room to have an HIV test conducted. The tester shook my hand. I was concerned as the tester did not wash his hands before administering the test, nor did he wear gloves when extracting the blood from my finger, whihc required about a small tube full. He then shook my hand again. Further, the tester did not even know the date to place on the results form. While the 12 month test was negative, I gained no peace of mind at all and contacted both the director and my individual doctor to express my concerns. I am a widow with two children and I am dumbfounded that a place that supposedly wants to stop HIV is so lax with its procedures. I began having and continue to have intense peripheral neuropathy in the face, both arms, wrists legs and feet, such like 1000 ants are crawling on me. This has gone on since 1/30/15. I am extremely frightened that by attenmpting to rule out HIV at 12 months, due to my symptoms, I am now starting over one of the worst years of my life. I am angry that the tester, who already has HIV, showed no concern for sanitary or protocol when I was tested. What are my chances of obtaining HIV if the first gentlemen''s eye stuff was on the hands of the tester when he adminstreed the test. I know after the fact that both men are HIV positive
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Answered by Dr. Vidya KR (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Shaking hands doesn't spread HIV

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for using Healthcaremagic.

I went through your query and understood your concerns.

HIV doesn't spread by shaking hands. So you are not at risk of getting HIV. Need not worry for this infection.

Good that your HIV test results after 12 months are negative . be happy for that and you are exposed to infection by shaking hands.

Hope I answeed your query. Feel free to ask further related query.

Wish you a good healthy life.

Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Vidya KR

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2011

Answered : 1664 Questions

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Can HIV Be Transmitted Through Hand Shake?

Brief Answer: Shaking hands doesn't spread HIV Detailed Answer: Hi, thanks for using Healthcaremagic. I went through your query and understood your concerns. HIV doesn't spread by shaking hands. So you are not at risk of getting HIV. Need not worry for this infection. Good that your HIV test results after 12 months are negative . be happy for that and you are exposed to infection by shaking hands. Hope I answeed your query. Feel free to ask further related query. Wish you a good healthy life. Regards