[Question #12080] catching HIV, HBV or HCV from a lancet cap

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10 months ago
Sorry to bother you doctors again, but I did something today that scares me I have pre-diabetes and I was talking to a friend about how I test myself 1-2 times a day and I had my home test kit.  I let my friend use it - and then I changed out the lancet, but forgot to clean the lancet cap - I did change the lancet - am I at any real risk of HIV or HCV or HBV from this.  I just totally forgot to clean the lancet cap - but like I said I did change the lancet when I used it after my friend, there was no blood on the cap.  Could I have caught HIV, or HCV, or HBV from this?
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10 months ago
sorry I forgot to mention I used the test kit after my friend did - I changed out the lancet, but forgot to clean the lancet cap

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Edward W. Hook M.D.
10 months ago
Welcome back to the Forum.  I'll go straight to your your situation.

You don't say how well you know your friend  but I would guess you have a sense as to whether or not they have or are at high for HIV or hepatitis B or C.  I suspect they are not and even if you are unsure, there is a less than 1% chance that they have any of these infections for a variety of reasons.  Persons who stick themselves with a hollow-point needle contaminated with blood from an untreated infected person also have a less than 1% chance of getting infected.  Your risk is even lower since the lancet you used was new and the only chance of contamination comes from the lancet cap. Considering all of these factors there is virtually no meaningful risk of your getting HIV or hepatitis B or C from the events you describe is less than 0.01% - in other words, there is a more than 99.99% chance that you were NOT infected with any of the viruses you list from the events you describe.  I would not worry and would not bother to test if I were you.  

Pleas edo not reuse your equipment going forward but I also would not worry about the events you describe.  EWH
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10 months ago
thanks doctor Hook - I read that HIV is the hardest to catch from a needlestick something like 1-300 or 1-500 is that true? Since my situation where it wasn't even a needlestick my risk would be even less than that, and that is if the person even had it, correct?  I don't know the person except through work, but they don't seem like someone who would not have a high risk lifestyle - but I really can't say.  I will make sure to not share my device again - so no need to test as I have virtually no risk from this correct?  Thanks a lot doctor 
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
10 months ago
You are correct.  Your risk is lower than the risk from a puncture from a hollow point needle.  If I were you, I would not be worried and would not bother to test again.  EWH---
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10 months ago
sorry you mean test again from this incident right - thanks doctor after this answer you can close the thread out
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
10 months ago
I said above, I see no reason for testing related to the incident you mentioned.  EWH---