You Can Get HIV from the Barber Shop, New Study Finds

 

> *By Michael Gwarisa | Health times*

A South African study has concluded that a person could be exposed to blood borne infections during a haircut or shave at a public barber shop, raising renewed concerns about hygiene standards in informal grooming spaces.

 

The study, published in the South African Medical Journal, found that 42 percent of barber clippers were contaminated with blood after use, including detectable levels of hepatitis B virus that pose a transmission risk. No HIV was detected on the clippers tested, but researchers stressed the need to quantify HIV risk and strengthen disinfection practices.

 

Led by Nonhlanhla P. Khumalo of the University of Cape Town’s Division of Dermatology, the research involved fifty barbers from three townships in Cape Town. One clipper from each barber was collected immediately after it had been used for a clean shave haircut. Each clipper was rinsed with phosphate buffered saline and submerged in viral medium. Polymerase chain reaction testing was then used to identify a blood specific RNA marker, haemoglobin beta, as well as hepatitis B virus and HIV.

 

Clean shave haircuts were the most frequently requested style, accounting for 78 percent of clients. Of the clippers collected, 42 percent tested positive for haemoglobin beta, confirming the presence of blood. None tested positive for HIV, while four clippers, representing eight percent, were positive for hepatitis B virus. Two clippers were positive on qualitative hepatitis B PCR testing. Genetic analysis showed one sample clustering with genotype A sequences from South Africa, India, Brazil and Martinique, while another clustered with South African genotype D sequences identical to a subtype D sequence previously identified in Gauteng.

 

“This study confirms that there is significant contamination of barber hair clippers with blood and blood borne viruses,” the authors noted. “Hepatitis B was detected with enough DNA copies to pose a risk of transmitting infection. Although HIV was not detected in this small study, the risk of transmission should be quantified.”

 

The researchers called for further studies into barber clipper sterilisation practices and whether the clean shave hairstyle is an independent risk factor for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections. They also recommended public education on individual clipper ownership for clean shave and blade fade haircuts, similar to personal toothbrush use.

 

HIV is transmitted through sexual contact, blood to blood exposure such as shared needles or unsafe transfusions, and from mother to child during delivery or breastfeeding. While no HIV transmission cases linked to barber shops have been reported, experts note that blade to skin contact, accidental cuts and poor disinfection can increase risk if proper protocols are not followed. HIV degrades outside the body.

*Health Times*

 

 

 

 

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