Health safety of trading partially used soap

Does anyone know of a reputable source that has addressed the risk of transmission for blood borne diseases such as Hepatitis C or HIV via soap? Most likely, there are folks in the wet shaving community that have one of these or another blood borne disease, yet don't know it. Of course, a nick can get blood on the shaving brush, which can get in the shaving soap or cream if the brush goes back into it.

Barbicide can be used on everything but the soap.

I've read from several reputable sources that the Hepatitis C virus can survive in a syringe for 45 days.

I've looked and looked and can't find anything from a definitive source like the CDC, The Mayo Clinic or another source like that.

For those that don't know, pathogens can survive on soap.

Any help would be appreciated!

the safest bet is to not buy used soap, without overly complicating things.

Well for what it's worth for those sho buy/sell/trade used soaps, I'll share what I have found. My take is that there is a small risk for transmission of blood born diseases. Recommendations I found are that folks living under the same roof that soap shouldn't be shared.

You can always scrape off the top layer if you're worried. I don't buy many used soaps, but when I do they have to be barely used and already be clean of lather (it just grosses me out if not) and have a harder consistency. Upon receipt I run extremely hot water on it and clean it off again and then load the living heck out of it with a brush.Sometimes I load the brush 2 or 3 times and then rinse the soap again. That should get rid of anything that was possibly living on the surface.

I remember when I was active-duty all the bathrooms in our aircraft hangars had bar soaps. Even today I have been to bathrooms in gas stations or other places that have bar soap. I really don't think there is much to worry about but if it bothers anyone it's easy enough to avoid.

the safest bet is to not buy used soap, without overly complicating things.

I agree. I have never done it, never will. Just me.

This is very simple for me.  I don't use bar soaps others have used and I sure as heck wouldn't put soap some stranger has used on their face after micro cutting it with a razor onto mine.  If I buy a shave soap that doesn't do it for me performance wise or scent wise it becomes a bath bar that I use until gone.  The selling and trading of used soaps has always grossed me out and no I'm not a germaphobe.

the safest bet is to not buy used soap, without overly complicating things.

I agree.  I have never done it, never will.  Just me.

This is very simple for me.  I don't use bar soaps others have used and I sure as heck wouldn't put soap some stranger has used on their face after micro cutting it with a razor onto mine.  If I buy a shave soap that doesn't do it for me performance wise or scent wise it becomes a bath bar that I use until gone.  The selling and trading of used soaps has always grossed me out and no I'm not a germaphobe.

I am not grossed out by it, or particularly worried about pathogens, but probably about the only way I would consider a used shaving soap is if it was no longer made and I really wanted to try it.  Otherwise, if it's still in production and easy to obtain then I would just as soon buy it new, even if the cost is a few $, £, or € more.

I can see all the points. I think it comes down to personal preference. I have PIF many soaps but never used ones, always new, just something that I wouldn't do.

I agree, Hector, and I have seen this subject come up before on other forums.

I won't touch them, not even from friends who wet shave.

I have no issues selling them if someone wants to buy them.