I recently got my had shaven by a barber. He used a new razor. When he was shaving my moustache, he accidentally made a cut. When the blood started oozing, he removed a stone and pressed against it. He must have used the same stone to stop blood from other bleeding ppl before me. What is the risk of HIV from this incident. I gave the barber a new blade but his stone escapade is freaking me out..What are the odds of catching HIV from this freakish stone..Thanks a lot for this forum..will donate generously..KK

Hi KK,

Cue ball with a mustache? Hmmm . . . sounds sexy!

Your HIV risk is so remote as to be essentially nonexistent. HIV doesn't survive outside the body and a "freakish stone" would be a particularly inhospitable environment for HIV. The only even theoretical risk would involve fresh HIV-infected blood coming into contact with a fresh open wound. I'm assuming the freakish stone was not dripping fresh HIV-tainted blood, right? After all, your barber wasn't named Sweeney Todd, was he?

If you remain worried, get a single rapid HIV test at the three-month mark. The results will undoubtedly be negative. You might also want to bring your own septic pencil to your next close shave barber's appointment.

Stay well. Thanks for your donation (www.concertedeffort.org).

Dr. Bob