I wear retainers for bed and leave them in a small tray next to the bathroom sink each morning when I take them out (the tray is not filled with water).

I allowed maintenance access to my apartment whilst I was at work to replace a faulty door handle.

When I returned home a few hours later, I noticed a few spots of red on the bathroom tiles about the size of a 5 pence piece. I have nothing painted red in my apartment, therefore I can only conclude that this was blood from the maintenance guy and he sustained a minor injury whilst working.

I noticed that the bathroom sink had also been used.

That night, without thinking or washing my retainers under the sink, I put them straight in my mouth as normal. I am petrified about the possibility of HIV blood or fluids being on them.

I have browsed the forum and note that HIV quickly becomes non-infectious when outside the body. I would appreciate straight science based facts as I do not wish to go down an internet rabbit hole!

Q1) Am I in the clear regarding HIV?

Q2) Can I move on with my life without any worry?

Many thanks in advance.

You really needn't be worried at all. Nobody in the world has ever been known to acquire HIV by exposure to the virus or contaminated blood or other body fluids in the environment. As an example of that, the household members of HIV infected persons never catch it even after years of sharing toilets, kitchens, eating utensils, etc. Other than sex or sharing drug injection needles, the only kind of blood contact that might transmit HIV is massive exposure to infected blood -- of the kind that might happen if you had blood all over your hands and face as a result of caring for someone with serious bleeding, like after a motor vehicle accident, gunshot wound, etc.

Blood has typical characteristics when it drips onto surfaces and usually is easily recognized. Among other things, it does not remain bright red once it dries and I would guess the red spots were not blood. It seems unlikely your maintenance service person bled while there. Even if he did, what is the chance that person happened to have HIV? But even if it was blood and he had untreated HIV, you could not have caught the virus from the sorts of events you ask. Those comments answer two questions, but to assure no mistake:

Q1) Yes you are in the car.

Q2) Yes you can move on with your life without worry about HIV.

You will never get HIV until and unless you have unprotected sex or share drug injection equipment with an HIV infected person. Please don't worry about any other kind of personal contact or exposure to blood.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

So in short: 

1. Zero need for any HIV testing whatsoever until I physically have unprotected sex (I never have and never will do needles); or in the event I am drenched in lots of someone’s blood.

2. No HIV risk from touching potentially contaminated door handles or boxes etc. which may have infected blood / fluids on them and then straight after eating food with my hands or biting my nails? (fingers in mouth)

3. No HIV risk from touching potentially contaminated door handles or boxes etc. which may have infected blood / fluids on them and then straight after touching my bleeding spots or popping a spot (I suffer with acne).

It is a shame that other physicians cannot simply give the basic no nonsense (and science based) answers you and Dr Hook can. It would relieve so much anxiety.

Thank you for your help.

Many physicians experienced in HIV and STIs would give exactly the same advice as we provide on this forum. I do not know a single HIV/STI expert who would not agree there were no risks for HIV infection from the exposures and events you have described. Some who would give different advice do not have the same level of personal experience or scientific understanding. Others have a legalistic perspective and pretty much refuse to ever say there is zero risk.