shall I need another test?

[jameslee2013]

Dear Doctors, It's my big honor to come to this forum and ask a question. I am male, 37 years old, from shanghai China. In Jan 2013, I had a blood test in a private lab (clinic) located in shanghai for DNA check. After that, I could not set my heart at ease and doubt if it was possible for me get infected by HIV caused by this blood test. The manager of this lad assured me that no way I could get infected by such blood test as they use the Vacutainer & Sterile butterfly needle as same as other state-run hospitals in shanghai.In shanghai, the best/biggest lab/hospitals are always state-run in shanghai.

Despite of that, I still went to the local state-run hospital(not the best one) to get HIV test in Feb 4th, March 4th, and May 25th.All of the results are negative. In China, those who got HIV/HBV/HCV sometimes are discriminated by others. In my last HIV test, I noticed the nurse watched me strangely as if she discriminated against me. I saw her teared off the plastic package of the butterfly needle in front of me, took the needle out, and made the blood drawn for me.

But now I am not happy with my test result. Because I worry about the nurse could do something wrong in the blood drawn and this would cause myself to get HIV infected(perhaps by the re-used the contaminated butterfly needle), as I feel she discriminated against me. That's why I feel uncomfortable and worried.

I have married and plan to have a baby with my wife this year. This accident caused me anxiety and I don't know if I may have unprotected sex with my wife. I really don't want to hurt anyone else in this way.

I am considering to have another HIV test in the best hospital in shanghai, which I can 100% trust, just in order to clear my anxiety. Do you think it is worth for me to have another HIV test to clear my worries & anxiety?
Thank you very much for your help!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I think that you are over reacting and worrying inappropriately.  The test results that you have proven that you do not have HIV and the idea that you were infected through re-use of the material used to draw your blood in Shanghai is simply not realistic.  You are correct that in some developing nations persons giving therapeutic injections have been shown to be a source of hepatitis C infections.  In major developed cities such as Shanghai however, medical practices are highly regulated and such practices do not occur.  You say the technician open the package and draw your blood. To be worried that you might have become infected in this way is paranoid thinking, nothing more.

I see no reason for concern or for additional testing.  There is no reason for the fears you have.  EWH

[jameslee2013]

hello doctor, i highly appreciate your concern for me, will talk to my mental counselor soon!

thank you very much for your help! I believe I will step out the difficulty finally!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

This is paranoid thinking with no basis.  I suggest that you discuss these inappropriate fears with a counselor or mental health professional.  I say this out of concern fo ryou, nothing more.  EWH

[jameslee2013]

Hi doctor Hook, thank you so much for your good advice! I am thinking if there's some evil nurses who will set up me? Suppose they put some contaminated blood on the butterfly needles then use it for blood drawn so as to make someone infected.

please forgive my strange thoughts!

[jameslee2013]

Hi doctors, there was a big medical disaster happened in a private clinic located in a very small and far away city DANDONG in china in Feb 2013. The owner of this very small clinic re-used the Syringe and needle in  injection purposely, this caused 121 people got HCV infected. He did that just for saving his cost and earned more money.

The owner of this clinic had been in criminal detention now and will be put in jail for very long time, the clinic was closed by Government.

Such kind of this accident made me worried about my blood drawn.But the officer in shanghai CDC told me it is absolutely impossible in shanghai, as shanghai is the biggest & modern city, with best medical level in China. No one will reuse the syringe and needle purposely.

So I need you help to clear my anxiety and worry.