Question regarding Risk...Please advise...

[Thetruth]

I had an HIV test the other day and I did not see the nurse change the lancet needle. If the needle was used on an infected person and then on me, could I have been infected? It was a lancet needle for the rapid finger prick test. I understand that just because I did not see her chnage the needle doesn't mean she didn't...however living in New York I have heard many incidents (and know of one personally) where needles have been reused. I am just trying to find out of there is a high risk of transmission from lancet needles...I am quite worried. Please help!

[RapidRod]

Please shut the pole down. It's not allowed in the "Am I Infected' forum. Read the "Welcome" thread. You did not get poked by a used lancet, nor are you going to be infected. You wouldn't get symptoms in days after exposure. Which is nill in your case because you didn't have an exposure. 

[Andy Velez]

You're talking "HIV jitters" here -- what ifs and totally speculation, nothing grounded in HIV science.

Simply because you didn't see a nurse change a lancet needle doesn't mean she diverged from standard medical practices.

I don't know what is driving your concern but it has nothing to do with HIV for real.   

[Thetruth]

I understand that this is a "what if" situation...however I know that there are documented situations where needles are reused for whatever reason...I just wanted to know if in fact a lancet needle was used on a person infected with HIV and then used on me, could I then becom infected and/or how likely it is that I could become infected.

[RapidRod]

Post the documentation of needles be reused other than illicit drug users. Don't make a cover all statement such as this if you can not back it up. We have enough trouble in this forum with WW, without the spreading of untruths.

[Thetruth]

Wow...I do not see how I am speading "untruths" as I said I personally know of a situation where a woman received a letter in the mail stating that her doctor's office had been caught reusing needles and was the cause of multiple AIDS and Hep C scares. She had to go and get tested for a similar situation. I came here to get information thinking that "no question was a stupid question if it is heart felt." I do not understand being accused of spreading "untruths" when I am simply trying to protect myself from a disease that I have personally seen destroy lives and a disease that can be stopped if people are allowed to ask questions and get answers.

I can certainly "back up" that clinics have reused needles before whether it did or didn't spread disease...and the fact of the matter is, it is an issue to me...and it is real to me and those that have fallen victim to it.

If it is perceived that I am stupid for my question or unjustified in my concern and you feel as if I do not need to know "whether HIV can be passed through the reuse of lancet needles," I would prefer no reply as opposed to comments that are curt and do not even bother to give me an answer.

I feel that I joined this site and was respectful. I was asked to close down the poll and I did. I haven't been rude to any person and quite frankly I jus wanted information. Where information is concerned unfortunately I do not feel as if I received it.

Thank you

[RapidRod]

They do not reuse needles or lancets period.. end of story. 

[Ann]

TT,

It would be highly unusual for anyone to become infected with hiv through a re-used lancet. Hiv does not remain viable and able to infect when exposed to an environment outside the human body. As a lancet is not a hollow-bore needle, the virus, if present, would not be protected from the environment in any way, shape or form. Also, hiv needs to bump into very specific cells in order to infect and these cells are not found in the cutaneous layer of skin that is penetrated by a lancet. There are just too many factors against successful transmission via a lancet.

Even with hep C, which is much more robust and much more infectious than hiv, it would be extremely difficult for successful transmission to occur via a lancet.

I would suggest you stop worrying about transmission modes that are for all intents and purposes impossible, and concentrate instead on protecting yourself against the real mode of transmission - namely unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse.

You need to be using condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse, every time, no exceptions until such time as you are in a securely monogamous relationship where you have both tested for ALL STIs together. To agree to have unprotected intercourse is to consent to the possibility of being infected with a sexually transmitted infection.

Have a look through the condom and lube links in my signature line so you can use condoms with confidence.

Anyone who is sexually active should be having a full sexual health care check-up, including but not limited to hiv testing, at least once a year and more often if unprotected intercourse occurs.

If you aren't already having regular, routine check-ups, now is the time to start. As long as you make sure condoms are being used for intercourse, you can fully expect your routine hiv tests to return with negative results. Don't forget to always get checked for all the other sexually transmitted infections as well, because they are MUCH easier to transmit than hiv.

Ann

[Thetruth]

Ann,

Thank you for your HELPFUL comments...I really appreciate it...