pipette

I read a question that Luther543 posted and it brought something to mind. I also had a n HIV insti test and while I understand clearly that it would just not be possible to contract HIV from the lancet, my concern relates to the pipette. However, my question stems from genuine concern rather than anxiety that Luther (sorry Luther!) seems to be sufferng from. The pipette was a thin glass pipette and I remember thinking that it did not look clean. I am not presumptious so I am assuming it might have just been the shade of light that made it look rather 'reddish'. However, perhaps you guys can kindly clean this up for me. If it had been a pipette that was used on an HIV patient around 4 minutes before, then could I have still contracted HIV in this way? I read Luthers post and Lucie that HIV dries when exposed to air and I accept this but would the inside of the pipette be classified as exposed to air or would HIV still be able to survive within one of those thin pipettes? Cheers guys!  

[anxiousashell190]

ur answer is the same as luther answer no chance

[LIZZIE LOU]

lucie?  lololol

i have to disagree with your assessment of yourself not posting an anxiety driven question.  are you aware that MOST ppl dont even think about being at risk from a lab?????????  the fact that you noticed the pipette and now wonder speaks for itself.

NO RISK

[elena97]

Sorry Lizzie I have had a few glasses of wine. Yes, I guess it is quite easy to feed into the fear when you read what others write sometimes it makes you think! So, even if there had been traces of blood on the glass pipette then sucking blood up from my thumb would not pose a risk? I thought blood in contact with blood was a risk no?

[anxiousashell190]

no hiv can't reproduce outside its host

[elena97]

But it can survive in the hollow bore of a needle so it is still capable of causing infection. THis is how intravenous drug takers catch HIV. Lizzie, what do you reckon about my pipette scenario even if there had been a bit of blood-would you still say no risk?

[LIZZIE LOU]

c'mon now...there was not any blood in the pipette.

NO RISK

[elena97]

ohh can 1 of the experts help me with this I might have just eliminated my concern altogether "hiv is not transmitted from environmental surfaces or inanimate objects."

Would a glass pipette be classified as an inanimate object?

Hmm quite confusing though because isn't a hollow bore needle also an inanimate object yet u can contract it from a hollow bore needle. HMM maybe I am making myself a little confused and anxious now incase it was really blood on the pipette!

[elena97]

Oh I only just saw ur post Lizzie after I wrote mine.

IF there was blood on the pipette though from a previous positive HIV patient 4 minutes ago, then would it be theoretically possible to get HIV in this way?

[LIZZIE LOU]

WHEN A DRUG USER SHARES "WORKS"...BLOOD IS PULLED BACK INTO THE NEEDLE/SYRINGE.  WHEN THE NEXT PERSON USES IT...THEY CAN POTENTIALLY INJECT THIS BLOOD INTO THEIR "VEIN"

A PIPETTE IS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THIS SCENARIO.

PLEASE...enough about this...youre proving my original point.

[elena97]

hehe yeah I guess you were right today was the first day I thought about it. I understand how this can lead to anxiety. I am going to let it go now as you say it is impossible :)

[luther543]

Thanks for making me scared again Elena! You can't get it from contact with environmental surfaces but the hole in the pipette, could that not allow the virus to survive for longer??

[luther543]

Or phrased another way, if a thumb prick came into contact with infected blood from the pipette after 2-4 minutes would it be impossible to contract HIV in this way? I can let it go as well like Elena I hope! Just a bit scared about this pipette scenario thing now

[Teak]

NO> 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.

[luther543]

Thank you Teak! So just to clear up mine and Elenas confusion, would a needle classify as laboratory conditions in which case HIV could still reproduce? Is that why needles are risky but pipettes are not?

[Teak]

NO.

[luther543]

lol okay. So then why is it that you can still get HIV using somebody elses needle then even though the blood has left it's host?

[luther543]

lol okay. So then why is it that you can still get HIV using somebody elses needle then even though the blood has left it's host? Please explain I am really confused..I thought you just said that it cannot reproduce when it is outside the living host except under lab conditions and then you said the blood in the needle or syringe would not be classified as lab conditions. I am not trying to contradict you sir I am just a tad confused...I can you are the master of this forum and you know what your talking about so im sure you know the answer!

[Teak]

Sharing the syringe right after someone has used it. The blood is in the syringe which is not exposed to air.

[luther543]

Ahh right okay. I read that accidental needlestick injuries can happen in hospitals to health workers. Is this because of the blood in the syringe that gets into their blood or can it also come from the needle itself?

ps. This is the best forum ever!!!

[Teak]

Yes they have had an injection not just the needle stick. Since 1985 when they started recording occupational exposure in the healthcare field there has only be less than 200 people contract HIV and there are over 900,000 exposure each year just in the US alone.

[luther543]

Oh, very Interesting piece of info.. So you couldn't get HIV if you used the same needle but changed the syringe??? I NEVER knew this.

What a great job you are doing helping others..keep up the good work

[luther543]

So you couldn't get HIV if you were a drug addict and used the same needle but changed the syringe???

[LIZZIE LOU]

OMG...have you ever heard of the "needle exchange" program?

once again...a needle is hollow bore.  before an addict injects, they normallY pull back blood to make sure they are in the vein.  being HOLLOW...the blood goes back into the needle up into the syringe.  some of that blood that has been pulled back can stay in the needle ALSO.

enough is enough...

[luther543]

Sorry I think I might have to go and get counselling because of reading all these things in these forums. Can you please help me with this scenario. I had a blood test a while ago at a private clinic. If the Dr was evil, and he was taking blood rather than injecting me, is there anyway that he could give me HIV like that? I know you are going to say a Dr wouldn't do that, but for peace of mind would it even be theoretically possible given that he was taking blood rather than injecting me. I did not see any visible blood on the needle or in the syringe. Please help me Lizzie, I can't concentrate on anything..I was fine before reading all of this stuff on the forums its my own fault I guess. Once you reply I promise I will leave you alone and will not bother you again about this matter and depending on what you say, I will either get another HIV test or go for counselling.

[LIZZIE LOU]

IRRATIONAL THINKING ! ! ! ! !

TAKE IT TO ANOTHER FORUM...I DONT WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THE "EVIL DOCTOR"

[luther543]

So sorry, I am just trying to find it if it would even be theoretically possible to infect someone that way, when they are taking your blood-that is all I am asking??? please answer me as I can't find anything on the net that would help me answer this Q and you are an expert

[LIZZIE LOU]

move on

[luther543]

So is it theoretically possible to get HIV like this? I beg you to just answer the question and then I will know if i need to go for another test or not! I am feeling very very poorly because of my anxiety and your answer might make me better, even if you think that it is theoretically possible but highly unlikely given that I did not see any blood? PLEAAAASEEEEEEEEEEEEE LIZZIE have sympathy for me I am really suffering

[LIZZIE LOU]

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/HIV-Anxiety-Support/show/595

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Anxiety/show/71

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder-OCD-/show/231

[luther543]

Thank you but from a theorital point of view, is the scenario I describe a possible route of HIV transmission or are you not prepared to answer that question?

I have just booked an appointment to see a GP and I am going to see if I can see a psychiatrist today or tomorrow..

[LIZZIE LOU]

me not prepared to answer?  hahahahaha

you have been given...IN DETAIL...how hiv is transmitted through a needle / syringe.  i suggest you go back and re-read the replies given.

we are NOT going to entertain the EVIL DOCTOR theory on this forum ! ! !

now go re-read and dont ask this again ! ! ! ! ! ! !

[luther543]

I have read them over and over but I am in such a state of anxiety that It doesn't seem to click if this scenario is a possible route of transmission. From what I have read it seems as if even if an evil Dr dipped a needle in blood and wiped it off the needle, then it would be a very unlikely route of transmission as the HIV would die as soon as it hit the air. If he sucked it up the syringe and then let it out again before taking my blood, then I would have seen blood in the syringe. Hence, I would say that it is impossible. I know you won't say if you agree with me or not so I will have to feel like this until I see the GP :(

[LIZZIE LOU]

SEEK PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HELP