Could sperm be lurking on YOUR hands? Research suggests it’s more common than you think…
- EXCL: One-third of the samples found dirt on their hands even after they were washed
- Two percent of people have sperm on their hands, according to scientists
- Women were more likely to have “visible marks” on their hands than men
One in 50 people you meet daily may have sperm on their hands, an experiment suggests.
A bloodcurdling study conducted on participants at a scientific conference found that about a third had dirty hands.
Other substances detected included hair, dirt and saliva.
In total, the hands of one third of those present were positive for hair and dirt and almost one in 10 showed saliva.
But the most shocking example was that 2 percent of people had seed heads, the oval-shaped tip of a sperm cell, on their hands, according to the study published by Science & Justice.
Forensic scientists found that a third of people had dirt on their hands, nine percent had saliva, a third had hair, and two percent had sperm lurking on their hands
Nearly two percent of people have sailors on their hands, according to a recent study published by Science & Justice. More than a third of people had washed less than an hour before sampling, and yet scientists found hair and fiber
The researchers, who were experts in forensic analysis, took swabs from 66 people, one from each hand.
Forty-five of the people tested were women and 21 were men.
All participants completed a questionnaire that included their age, gender and how long it was since they last washed their hands.
None of the men who were wiped turned out to have semen on their hands, but two women did.
Researchers said one sperm head was detected on one side from a woman between the ages of 18 and 29.
She had even washed her hands an hour before the smear test.
Two more sperm heads were found on the hands of a 40- to 49-year-old woman.
But this participant had not washed their hands for two to three hours before taking the smear.
Researchers said the results couldn’t confirm whether the sperm heads were present as a result of recent sexual activity or if they were picked up from contaminated surfaces.
Both samples also had dirt or stains on their hands.
But scientists said no further tests have been done to find out if the stains were due to makeup, food or background dirt.
In addition, 9 percent of the people were found to have traces of saliva on their hands.
More than a third of people surveyed had washed their hands less than an hour before sampling, yet scientists found hairs and fibers.
But after more than three hours without washing hands, the amount of hair increased by 50 percent.
Dirt and stains were also found on 40 of the 132 samples, about a third of the participants.
A blood test was also performed, but, reassuringly, no traces were found on the hands of those present.
The scientists behind the study conducted the experiment to show the background level of body fluids on hands and the effectiveness of various test measures.
The exact conference at which the experiment was conducted has not been disclosed.
NHS advice urges people to wash their hands regularly to prevent people picking up and spreading infections to others.
It advises people to wash their hands after using the toilet, changing a diaper, before and after handling raw food, before eating or handling food, after blowing or sneezing, before and after handling a cut or wound and after touching pets or animals.