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What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?
Question: sir, I am a male of age 35. I went for some pathological test (HIV & VDRL). I doubt whether the lab technician used new syringe to collect blood sample from me or not. It was not a much reputed laboratory. She took Rs 450 for both the tests. She also supplied the used Rapid HIV test kit & Syphilis Test strip attached with the report. she told me that the reports are normal (HIV negative and VDRL non-reactive). sir my question is can a syringe used on any other person be used to collect blood sample from me by cheating or it will be automatically inactive to be used again ??? If the person took blood from me by an used syringe then can HIV enter into my body (if HIV is inside that syringe then how can it enter into my blood because perhaps there are no input from the syringe to my blood for sample collection !!! ). I asked the lab over phone after this incident they told me that they use the syringe only once. Am I in the risk zone of HIV ???? Please clear my doubt sir.
Brief Answer:
Not in risk for HIV Infection due to sample collection
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for your query.
I'm Dr. Shuba Hariprasad and will be answering your query today.
I've gone through your query and understand your concerns.
The HIV cannot live outside the body.
The needle needs to be inserted right after it has been used by an HIV infected person, to enter the blood stream. In your case this is unlikely.
Needles usually need to be voluntarily disposed after a single use. If a lab has to have a license, they need to prove quality assurance by using a new needle and syringe everytime.
These needles, once used retain blood in the hub of temporal needle. If washed, retains water. This is easily noticeable.
It costs more and is too much work to do. It is more cost and time effective for them to just use a new syringe.
To answer your question - it is possible to get contaminated if there is a needle prick, even without injecting anything in, but as mentioned above, it has to have blood and injected right after being used by an infected person.
In any case, the virus doesn't survive outside the body and it is highly unlikely that you are infected by this blood testing.
You are not in the risk zone for contracting HIV due to this
In future, please make sure they open a new needle in front of you or ask for one if they don't.
Hope I've answered your queries and reassured you.
Wish you good health
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
Not in risk for HIV Infection due to sample collection
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for your query.
I'm Dr. Shuba Hariprasad and will be answering your query today.
I've gone through your query and understand your concerns.
The HIV cannot live outside the body.
The needle needs to be inserted right after it has been used by an HIV infected person, to enter the blood stream. In your case this is unlikely.
Needles usually need to be voluntarily disposed after a single use. If a lab has to have a license, they need to prove quality assurance by using a new needle and syringe everytime.
These needles, once used retain blood in the hub of temporal needle. If washed, retains water. This is easily noticeable.
It costs more and is too much work to do. It is more cost and time effective for them to just use a new syringe.
To answer your question - it is possible to get contaminated if there is a needle prick, even without injecting anything in, but as mentioned above, it has to have blood and injected right after being used by an infected person.
In any case, the virus doesn't survive outside the body and it is highly unlikely that you are infected by this blood testing.
You are not in the risk zone for contracting HIV due to this
In future, please make sure they open a new needle in front of you or ask for one if they don't.
Hope I've answered your queries and reassured you.
Wish you good health
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
Thank you madam. You have said that HIV cant stay longer out side the body. But I have heard that it can stay longer in the neddle/syringe. Is it true ???? Am I still safe if the neddle/ syringe is used previously????
Brief Answer:
HIV requires blood to survive.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow up.
HIV would need blood to survive. It can survive in dried blood for about 5 days. Temperature, the acidity of the blood, play a role in how long the virus survives.
Studies have shown that even if you come in contact with the HIV, infection does not necessarily occur. A study which took into a account, the number of people who came into contact with needles (injuries) used drug users didn't show any one who got infected with the virus.
If the needle was used previously, and there was blood in it with the HIV and it was maintained at room temperature or cooler environment, it is possible that it may survive in 10% of the cases,for about a week (longer if in freezing temperature)
I cannot vouch for the needle/syringe , if it was used but it is highly unlikely that this procedure would infect you with HIV, unless there was already blood in it with the virus.
I understand your anxiety. Hope I've reassured you.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
HIV requires blood to survive.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thank you for the follow up.
HIV would need blood to survive. It can survive in dried blood for about 5 days. Temperature, the acidity of the blood, play a role in how long the virus survives.
Studies have shown that even if you come in contact with the HIV, infection does not necessarily occur. A study which took into a account, the number of people who came into contact with needles (injuries) used drug users didn't show any one who got infected with the virus.
If the needle was used previously, and there was blood in it with the HIV and it was maintained at room temperature or cooler environment, it is possible that it may survive in 10% of the cases,for about a week (longer if in freezing temperature)
I cannot vouch for the needle/syringe , if it was used but it is highly unlikely that this procedure would infect you with HIV, unless there was already blood in it with the virus.
I understand your anxiety. Hope I've reassured you.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
Regards,
Dr. Shuba Hariprasad
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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