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.

15 hours 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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5 hours 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?

2 hours ago

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