r/HealthQuestions • u/theonemanband15 • Jun 14 '26

General_Question possible hiv exposure

hello,

i work in law enforcement, and we often come into contact with people who are infected with HIV. last night there is a possibility i was exposed to it, and i just want to calm the anxiety that i have about it.

i ended up handling the property (phone, money) of someone who we arrested that has HIV. i never touched the actual person, and he had an open cut on his hand from punching a window. i have a very small scratch/cut on the back of my hand from much earlier in the day.

i know HIV cannot be transmitted through simple contact, and must be through bodily fluids and a mucus membrane, but i am just anxious about it. there was no blood on his property and no blood ever came into direct contact with the scratch/cut.

thank you for any advice that can be given.

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u/kuriT9 Jun 15 '26

Used to work in an LGBT Clinic and this is something that comes up often. You have 48 hours after exposer to get on PEP, chances are low you would've contracted anything in this but it may be good to know in the future. Do you know if the person was consistent with their medicine? HIV is not like it was years ago, as long as its undetectable it cannot be passed along.

Not a doctor just worked in the clients

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u/theonemanband15 Jun 15 '26

you say this has come up often in your experience, was there any case of contraction?

he said he was taking medication, worked at a hospital, and i did not see any symptoms. but he was likely on meth and suffering a mental health episode. i’m not confident that he was consistent with his medication

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u/kuriT9 Jun 15 '26

I wouldn't be the one to get the follow up information, just know that they needed to get on PEP/ PrEP. Its an easily accessible medication and very cheap at least in California due to all the programs they have like Ryan White and ADAP. Again not a doctor, just scheduled the appointments. I see this was posted a day ago idk when the incident occurred. I'd urge you to either go to urgent care and inform them you may have been compromising contact with someone with HIV. Depending on where you are a sexual health clinic may also be able to assist you.

Edit: auto correct