I just went to get a blood test at a local lab.  I sat down to get the test and after I put my arm down on the surface I noticed a prior patients blood was on the table surface.

I immediately notified the person drawing the blood and she was apologetic and cleaned the blood with lysol and changed were gloves. I then had the test.

I now realize that my arm where my own blood was drawn from probably came in contact with the blood on the table.

I am concerned whether I could have contracted HIV or any other illness from th efact that someone elses blood may have been on my arm when a needle was inserted into it to draw my blood.

Could I have contracted HIV or anything else this way? Would greatly appreciate help because I am very nervous about this.

There is absolutely no chance of HIV or any other blood borne infection from this sort of event. Contact of small amounts of blood with intact skin is risk free. And it isn't possible that a needle into vein could pick up virus on your skin and infect you. In the 40+ years of the world wide HIV/AIDS epidemic, with millions and millions of cases, nothing like this has ever been suspected to be the cause of anyone's infection. You needn't worry at all and do not need testing for HIV or anything else.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD