I had anxiety for last few months over few non-sexual incidences and the only way to get around it was to get HIV test. This was my 1st HIV test in my life. I did 4th GEN and RNA at 45 days and both test were negative. I did those test at Quest Diagnostics in USA. I do have some lingering fear on if I actually got infected from blood draw, I know it sounds crazy but fear is real. Here is what happened would appreciate your expert opinion on any real RISK.  The phlebotomist was bit in a bad mood, he was old black guy seemed to be experienced. When I sat on chair I asked him to pls wear new gloves he had none before as he was typing my order on computer. I saw some dark spots on his finger that triggered me for sure. 

1. I did not see if he used new needle, I did see the assembled unit with needle and tube holder on table, needle had green cap on it that he removed before using it on me. I have read that its standard policy to not recap needles. Will quest reuse needles? sounds crazy but want to confirm. What is my risk for HIV?

2. I saw some dark spot on phlebotomist finger, if the dark spot on his finger was blood from previous person and he touched all the blood draw equipment like gauze, tubes, tape, closed needle cover before using it on me is that a risk? When he  punctured me he was wearing gloves. thank god

3. After the blood draw he asked me to press on the gauze, I used my bare fingers to press on the gauze not sure what my fingers had touched before. I did see there was no blood on the outside of the gauze where I touched. Is this a RISK?

4. After I removed my bandaid saw some blood on it I am assuming it has to be mine, is it normal to get some blood out after draw to st

4. Are there instances of HIV infections from blood draw in US?

Thank you so much DR's, I hope I don't need to retest again from an HIV test. I have lovely wife and 2 daughters dont want to put them at ANY RISK whatsoever. Me and my wife are in monogamous relationship for last 23 years. 

1.  The needles used to draw blood are designed so that they can only be used a single time.  I would not worry that your blood was drawn with a used needle.

2.  Obviously I cannot comment as to what the dark spots you saw were but I am confident that they were not blood.  Even if they were, touching other inanimate objects with a contaminated finger would still not lead to infection.  this is nothing to be concerned about.

3.  HIV is not spread by touching so, even if you had inadvertently touched a contaminated surface, holding the cause in place over the spot that blood was drawn would not put you at risk for infection.

4.  Yes, it is normal for a small amount of blood to be on a Band-Aid following having blood drawn.  I am confident that what you saw was your blood.

5.  As I said above, there are no instances in which having blood drawn for laboratory testing has led to infection.

Bottom line- this was a no risk event. there is certainly no risk for HIV and no need for further testing.

I hope that this information is helpful.  EWH

Thank you for detailed response, it did put me at ease. Ironically I had 2nd incidence today which was bit similar. I went to a covid vaccination state run mega site in New Jersey to get my 1st Covid vaccine shot. As I am always curiously watching, I saw the nurse only wore glove on one hand (right hand the one she used to administer the vaccine). She used her left hand which had no gloves to wipe the injection site with alcohol prior to giving me shot and then latter put in bandAid with the same hand which had no gloves. I hope she did not put me at any RISK assuming she had CUTs on her hand with no gloves. The whole thing happened so quickly I had no chance to tell her anything, as you can image these sites are very busy. Can you access my RISK please for this incidence with gloves on one hand only?

Also one thing I did not like is they had the red biological disposable container with wide open mouth right under the table next to where patients sit for there vaccine shots. I can image the reason they kept it there is to facilitate easy and quick disposal of used vaccine needles due to high volume of patients they were seeing.  The container had a lot of used vaccine syringes with needles. I am just praying to god that I did not get stuck by needle as I did not see if there were any syringes or needles on floor outside of the red container , Practically thinking I dont think that I got stuck as a needle stick is something you will definitely feel in your leg. and I felt nothing for sure. 

I will be surely working on my anxiety but your accurate assessment of RISK will help me move on and start leaving normal life again.  Can I continue having unprotected sex with my wife without worrying about these incidences?

Thank you Dr. 

I see no reason whatsoever from either of the experiences that concern you, no reason for testing, and no reason related to these events to hesitate to have unprotected sexual contact with your wife.  Time to move forward without concern. EWH

1. Based on all I have read from you and Dr H a 4th Gen DUO test is conclusive at 45 days, on top of it I also took RNA test at the same time 45 days both test were negative. So I can safely move on knowing everything I had feared for last 45 days was just nonsense. 

2. Just to make sure I understood your response to my last set of questions, even if the nurse had contaminated material like blood on her fingers and somehow managed to touch my needle puncture site or my bandaid before she put it, STILL ITS NO RISK?  as virus does not spread on peoples hands, or superficial contact like with puncture site and needs to be injected deep into the tissue for infection to occur. 

Finally you and Dr H are doing an amazing job with this website in helping a lot of us who need guidance and good medical advice. 

Thank you again

2.  Correct, still NO RISK.  The virus does NOT spread on people's hands or with superficial contact.  

No need for concern.  Please don't worry.  Take care.  EWH