POZ Community Forums
HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: nervous nellie on August 07, 2006, 08:48:30 pm
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Just wondering....I went to a new gynecologist recently and the doctor used a metal speculum for the pap smear. I am used to a a plastic disposable one so I freaked. Is there any chance of being HIV infected assuming the technician did not sterilize the speculum properly? I am pretty confident in this office due to the fact that they are a reputable group. But in any case asssuming the tech made a mistake is there a chance of infection with a cross contamination of vaginal fluids so close to the cervix being on the speculum . Thanks in advance!
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Nellie,
Metal speculums are sterilised between patients. You have nothing to fear from this incident. Please read our Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) to learn about how HIV is and is not transmitted.
MtD
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Thank you .I do assume that it was strerilised, They are a reputable office. But what if the tech did not sterilise efficiently enough ...would vaginal fluids that remain on the speculum contain enough viable virus to infect the next patient..
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Nellie,
You've said it yourself. Your gyno is reputable. Reputable gynos don't use unreliable technicians. Really, HIV is not an issue here. Once again I encourage you to read our Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0).
I wouldn't tell you fibs babe.
MtD
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Thanks matty...any other experts have an opinion please....thanks again.
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Nellie,
Have you discussed your concerns with your doctor? It might be reassuring for you to have him explain the infection control procedures he uses to protect his patients.
MtD
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Yes I have ...its funny you mention this because I told him in his office before the exam that I had some fear issues with hiv...ok I guess more like ocd issues ...then when we got to the exam and he took out the speculum he immediately assured me that it was clean....I still freaked a bit ...but its not the doc I worry about after all its not him that sterilising these things....rather a tech thats why I ask assuming they did not do a good enough job at sterilising if it were a risk.....thanks
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Whoa Nellie
As Matty said...the answer is no you have nothing to be worried about. Matty is brutally honest....he's delicious.
The Dr doesn't necessarily hire the lab techs that sterilize equipment. Lab techs have very specific procedures because they work in certified labs. Your Dr likely gets his equipment from certified labs (and stop it...there aren't labs that supply that kind of thing that aren't certified). Autoclaving is very specific and very carefully done. If your Dr has his own autoclave and everything himself....congrats he would still have to be certified and ensure proper medical device management.....seriously. Labs have to be managed and certified and audited. I've been a lab manager in various settings...trust me what you have to go through is unreal.
To make it more clear for you, now lets walk through this: you are thinking the person before you had HIV, and that HIV managed to survive a bad autoclaving, make its way back to you and end up giving you HIV. Uh....no! Think about how gross that would be to use a dirty speculum in the first place...you really think your Dr would allow such a thing? NO. Even if it was a dirty speculum......it wouldn't transmit HIV to you because the HIV would be inactive by that point anyway.
Really, chill out, its not how the medical field works.....medical devices and their management....very serious.
Sae.
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Hi all. Just a general question for the experts. As you can tell by now I do have a great fear of this disease. My question is ...I was looking in the just tested poz forum and there seemed to be a number of people who were stunned by their results. Of course anyone would be but many of these people say they had no idea how they would have contracted this virus. Some say they only had oral sex...very low risk....some even say they were celebate....no one seemed to mention being in healthcare. One person can only recall being hit in the arm with what they thought might have been a sharp object. I've read the transmission section and with the support of all the experts I am trying to get past my fears of other possible ways of transmission...but when i read these posts it freaked me out a little. How could this be, none of these seem to fit the bill for transmission...so what to think now?
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So what to think now? You need to keep your nose out of "I Just Tested Poz Forum." Some of those are in denial and have no idea how they really contracted HIV. Some don't even have HIV but are there just to fulfill their time. As we've told you, you didn't get infected by getting a pap smear. You don't get infected from environmental exposures.
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Hi. Hate to be a pest. i was wondering if vacutainer tube holders can be reused from one person to the next. The part I'm talking about is the plastic piece that holds the blood collection tubes during a blood test. Ive seen this question come up before and it has happened to me. I've seen the tubes with visible specks of blood on it from previous use of other people. When I questioned the doctor or nurse Ive been told this is not an issue because this piece never touches the needle. Is that true ? Would i'd be at risk for hiv. I'm sure the tubes are exposed to air between patients.Would this be enough time to inactivate the virus on a drop or two of blood? Thanks for your support.
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Nell,
Why would a health care professional lie to you or put you at risk of a serious infection? It doesn't happen.
Please seek the assistance of a mental health care professional to deal with your health related anxieties before they begin to take over your life. We cannot help you with that here.
Ann
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Hi . Thanks for the support in the past. I have a quick question. I was in a store and someone was looking at an item in the store they put it down and I picked up the same item a few seconds later , I noticed the palm of my hand had cracked and bled when I looked down(due to excema). When I got home I unpacked the items and noticed a smear of blood on the item the other person handled. Assuming it was their blood and my cut touched it would I be at risk for HIV. Thanks again.
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Nellie,
No you wouldn't be at risk of contracting HIV under those circumstances. Honey, I really think it's time you sought the advice of a mental health professional regarding your unfounded fears of HIV infection.
MtD