[Question #8497] Exposed needle disposal box
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43 months ago
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Hello and sorry if this question sounds ridiculous but I have bad anxiety and intrusive thoughts which both work against me.
I went to a Quest Diagnostics for a urine test. While looking up my order the phlebotomist had me sit in the blood draw chair where I rested my elbow on the arm rest. On both sides of the armrest were completely open needle disposal boxes and both had needles in them. Of course I then moved my arms but I felt a pinch near my elbows. Not sure if it was a muscle, from the arm rest, but my worst fear is that it was from one of those used needles.
I’m aware from reading other questions nobody has ever got HIV from a blood draw but I wasn’t there to get my blood drawn, I was just potentially exposed to the needles from there. Is it possible to get HIV from those needles? I’m not sure what kind Quest used specifically but some sites say HIV is only a risk from needles with syringes where an injection took place. Since quest doesn’t do injections is it safe to assume I’m ok?
Also if testing is necessary do you think an RNA test at 15 days would be reassuring? I’d absolutely test again at 4 weeks but this has only happened a week ago and I already feel very depressed and hopeless.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
43 months ago
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Welcome to our firm. Thanks for your question. You are correct, we receive many questions regarding potential exposures and healthcare settings. In general they represent concern far, far out of risk to any real danger of infection.
To Summarize the situation with you report above, you experienced a sensation at the time you sat in the phlebotomy chair. Apparently following this, there was no evidence that blood was drawn, I.e. the was no blood visible at location where you experienced the possible prick.. Thus, even if you were stuck with a needle, which seems unlikely, in the absence of penetration sufficient to cause bleeding. your risk for HIV infection would be virtually nonexistent.
I really see no scientific or medical reason for testing. That said, if you were to have an HIV PCR test performed any time more than 12 days following this event, a negative result would strongly indicate that you were not infected.
I hope this information is helpful to you. If I my interpretation is incorrect or there are further questions please feel free to use your up to two follow-ups for clarification. EWH
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43 months ago
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Thank you for your reply. While I didn’t see any blood (wet or dry) I do have a lot of spots (ranging from red spots to pimples) on my body that can make it hard to distinguish if a needle stuck me. I will say that I haven’t noticed any bruising to go along with any of the marks (which I do usually get when getting my blood drawn). But going with the worst case scenario that I was stuck with one of the needles at Quest, what would the risk be and would the 14 day RNA test still be reasonably reassuring?
Thank you
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
43 months ago
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If you were stuck during the events you describe, the fact remains that there was no visible blood, rashes and other blemishes non-withstanding. Further, if you were stuck by a used needle, there is no indication that material within that needle was injected into you nor is there any reason to believe that the needle might’ve been used to draw blood from a person infected with untreated, HIV before your possible needle stick. Finally, in the unlikely situation that you were stuck with a needle and that the needle has been used on a person with untreated HIV, the statistical that you would be infected would be less than 1% in other words chances are 99% you would not be infected.
Bottom line, there is very, very little risk that you were infected. If you choose to seek reassurance by getting a HIVRNAPCR test at 14 days, the negative result, which I am confident of, would provide further strong reassurance that you were not infected by the events of concern. EWH
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43 months ago
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Thank you for the reply. You’re correct that there was no blood, rashes, or bruising visible after but I do have red marks near the area. I’m not sure if they’d be a result of being stuck or just normal blemished human skin.
Do blood draw labs such as quest use needles that can be used to inject? I thought vacutainers were common place these days. Would injection increase risk significantly?
Finally I will be taking the RNA test at 14 days. After I receive the results would you recommend taking a 4th gen test at 4 or 6 weeks? Thank you for the help.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
43 months ago
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As you know, we provide up to three responses to each client’s questions. This will be my third response. Later today the thread will be closed.
Most typically laboratories performing testing only use Vacutainer’s and other blood drawing material which remove/pull blood from the patient. They do not inject material.
Many experts recommend following and HIVRNAPCR test taken at 12 to 14 days following exposure with a repeat fourth generation, combination HIV antigen/antibody test at six weeks following exposure. This recommendation appears to reflect an abundance of caution rather than any meaningful likelihood that persons with a negative PCR test will go on to develop a positive test following the PCR. We have never seen or heard of a person with a negative HIVPCR test at 12 to 14 days who went on to develop a positive test.
I really think you are worrying about this more than you need to be. We have never seen or heard of a person who has acquired HIV is the result of exposure occurring in a diagnostic laboratory. There is virtually no chance that you will be the first. EWH
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43 months ago
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Thank you unfortunately I’m also concerned because of my intrusive thoughts that I may have accidentally stuck myself on purpose then forgot about it. I know it sounds crazy but that’s how my anxiety works. But if they didn’t have any syringes and only use vacutainers to draw blood then it is relatively low risk correct?
Thank you for the help I will be sure to test as soon as possible.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
43 months ago
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Final response. HIV is not acquired as a result of exposure to used Vacutainer needles. EWH---