Really not sure

[gibsons]

Hi, I am hoping somebody can help me.  I have recently moved to the Middle East and as part of the visa process we have to have bloods taken HIV and HEP.  I went along to the testing centre, it was pretty scummy (not like western places) and was full of a wide mix of people.  Basically we all stood in a line and had our blood tested one after the other.  There was only about a minute between eash person being tested (it was like a production line!!!).

Ok, so I made sure that she pulled a needle out of a brand new packet.  She did and I have no concerns about that.  As soon as she took the needle out of my arm she pressed the needle entry point with her hand that had a glove on it.  My concern is that she didn't change gloves between patients and my question is basically this:

If she had blood on her gloves from the previous patients, please remember that there was no time between patients, and then touched the 'wound' from where I had blood taken is there a risk of cross contamination and a risk of becoming HIV + from this incident.

Thanks

[gibsons]

Thanks

[Vance2335]

Yes

[gibsons]

and just for a final conclusion is this because once exposed to the air even for a very brief amount of time, 30 seconds, the virus is deactivated?

Therefore anything outside of the body where fluids do not go straight from one body to another is not a risk.

If you could answer this final question for me I will do my best to MOVE ON and if for some reason can't will do as you say and take it to a therapist

[Vance2335]

If this if that...if the nurse had dropped the needle...if the nurse had...we don't play "what if" because no matter what you say we have seen it before again and again...more what if questions. You had no risk. If you can't accept that then see a therapist or post in the anxiety forum on this website.

[gibsons]

I am aware that this is a what if question and I will not come back and forth with this but I just need to clarify one thing....

If the nurse had blood on her gloves and then accidentally touched the needle which was then inserted into my arm would this change this from no risk to risk?

So, blood on gloves from patient less than a minute before me, transferred onto gloves and into my arm.

Please let me know what you think and if this still is not a risk why not.  Thanks, I am having a really hard time with this and just need to understand.

Am I just being totally irrational and that even if she did get blood on the needle it still would not be a risk?

[gibsons]

Thanks for your response Lizzie.  I guess the situation that I was in made me feel pretty uneasy and it has just been playing on my mind.

I feel like I have gone totally irrational with this, I mean how many times can you be told no risk eh :)

I value your response, moving to a new country and adpating to their way of doing things is definitley a trying experience :)

Thanks again.

[LIZZIE LOU]

testing is not needed...you had no risk

[gibsons]

Sorry to post again, I so did not want to be that person that keeps coming back but something is just bothering me slightly, its been about 3 weeks since the test and the last couple of days I have had mild sore throat and diarrhea.

Is it 100% definite that HIV could not be transmitted in the manner I describe, therefore, meaning that these symptoms cannot have anything to do with HIV.

Do you think that other than for peace of mind I should test or you can say with conviction that I really should stop worrying?

Thanks and sorry

[gibsons]

Thanks, really appreciate it

[Teak]

No risk at all.

[gibsons]

Wow, so even in that short period of time (a minute or less) between patients there really is no risk at all?

[Teak]

HIV is unable to reproduce outside its living host (unlike many bacteria or fungi, which may do so under suitable conditions), except under laboratory conditions; therefore, it does not spread or maintain infectiousness outside its host.

You had no risk.