I am in very tensed situation as I went yesterday for routine blood test at STD Clinic. The blood drawn was done by vacutainer. The needle was new and the tube was also new but the holder was reused. And after taking blood, the nurse put the holder on the desk and I saw blood on the mouth of holder. This scared me a lot It might be mine blood and also it might be possible that some other patient blood would be there who would be tested before me.

Is there any risk for HIV which I quite worry and try to practice safe sex. as this is STD clinic most people came to test for HIV

Edward W. Hook M.D.

1 months ago

Welcome back to the Forum. Once again you are worrying about a no risk exposure. No one has ever been infected with HIV or other blood born pathogens from a contaminated vacutainer holder- you are not going to be the first, No matter whether or not the person on whom the holder used before you was infected, vacutainer systems are designed to avoid contamination or transfer of infected blood. This was a no risk event. I see no reason for concern and no need for testing. I'll remind you of something Dr. Handsfield said to you in an earlier interaction-

"There has never been a case of HIV not acquired by truly intimate contact or massive blood exposure.

To some extent, the health professions are at fault for such fears. Sometimes advice implies that ANY blood contact can transmit HIV. It isn't true. It takes far more blood contact to risk infection than you describe here. You will never get HIV if you are sexually safe and do not share drug injection needles with other person."

Please don't worry. EWH

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1 months ago

Thanks, Dr. Hook. So, not all blood exposure causes infection, right? In my case, there was probably only 1–2 drops of blood. So it’s unlikely to cause infection, and I shouldn’t worry, right?

What I’m worried about is that if the blood came from a previous patient, could this lead to an HIV risk? Since this is an STD clinic, not a regular hospital.

So, to summarize, Should I wait one month and take another blood test, or is there no need and I can just live a normal life?

1 months ago

And This exposure, Is the same as share drig injection needle ? As it contaminate blood

Edward W. Hook M.D.

1 months ago

As I said above, this was a no risk situation. It is in no way a blood exposure, and there is no need for concern or testing, even if the vacuum holder had been used on a person with HIV before it was used on you. Please don’t worry. This was a no risk of it. EWH.---

1 months ago

OK So even the vacuum holder had been used on a person with HIV before it was used on me and may have some blood on it. Also no risk event ? thanks for your reply doctor, I quite anxiously on this.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

1 months ago

I can see that you are anxious but that does not change my response. This was a no risk event. As I said, in my original response, no one has ever acquired HIV as the result of an exposure to blood in a previously used vacuum container holder. You will not be the first. Among the reasons are.

1. It is statistically unlikely that the person before you had untreated HIV.

2. Vacutainer needles, tubes, and their holders are designed so that the flow of blood is from your body outside into the tube, not in the other direction. Blood must go into your body to cause infection.

3. As you have already pointed out the blood that you saw could very well have been your own.

There is no reason for concern. Obviously, if you cannot move forward on this without testing, you can test. The quickest conclusive test result you could receive would be by having an HIVRNAPCR test performed more than 11 days after your visit to the STD clinic. A negative result would be conclusive at that time. Alternatively, if you wait for four weeks, results of testing would be more than 98% conclusive and would become entirely conclusive six weeks after the event you describe.

I hope you will be able to move forward and contain your anxiety. This completes this thread. I wish you the best. EWH.

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1 months ago

Thanks you Doctor, I think I have a contamination OCD and my counsellor advice me to move on without testing.

Edward W. Hook M.D.

1 months ago

I agree with that advice.

Closing the thread now EWH

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