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Avatar universal

Can I ?

I am a medical student and while working with patients with HBV yesterday I accidentally used the needle to pick his finger to get a drop of blood to check his glucose level in the wrong direction, I used  gloves.The needle is for one time use only, I injured my finger +the gloves so the second needle has no chance of having his blood in it, but before that I did use another needle on him which it seemed didn't shed any blood, that's why I had to used the second needle. I am sure that the second needle wasn't infected  and I am 90% sure that the second needle didn't break his skin but I am currently petrified by the idea of getting HBV like that! There was no blood on my gloves after I used the first needle on him but I need to get some reassurance maybe...
I went to get the shot within 24 hours the usual HBV vaccine but since I had a cold they said it was too risky to get  the shot.
It has been 38 hours since that happened. If I want to check whether I have been infected how long can I wait to get an accurate blood test done?
Best Answer
Avatar universal
It has been 38 hours since that happened. If I want to check whether I have been infected how long can I wait to get an accurate blood test done?

not possible to know, hbv needs to reach the liver to start infection and this might take a couple of weeks to 6 months.you might spend about 500usd on a research assay for hbvdna pcr but it is wasted money, just follow immune globulins and vaccine and check hbsab antibody titer
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Avatar universal
thanks :)
I will get the HBIG tomorrow morning.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
it is the set of HBIG+ HBV vaccine or only HBIG?

i'd take Hbig from now, hbig is just hbsab antibodies so that if you have hbv virions around your body they are weakened or inactivated, this will help to prevent the onset of hbv infection and have more time for hbv vaccine.Hbig has no controindications but i think it is very expensive
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Avatar universal
one last question(sorry to be bothering you so much)

When I went to take the HBV vaccine they said it is better that I don't take it as I had a flu, so if I need to take the HBIG it is the set of HBIG+ HBV vaccine or only HBIG?
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Avatar universal
I am almost sure that I didn't infect myself there but at times it is better to opt for some protection.

Thanks again for your replies dude :) I really appreciate it.
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Avatar universal
It has been 50 hours, if I get it tomorrow morning it will be around 68 hours after infection, it should still be ok ,right?

For the HBV vaccine they said that I had to come after my flu is gone (almost gone right now),I am not looking for the flu shot.

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Avatar universal
The immune globulins should be started within 24 hours to infection

the sooner h big and vaccine the better, 100% secutity it works if you make within 48hrs but even after is ok because hbv can start as early as 48hrs (but usully much later) and as long as 6 months

so window period is quite long

as for hbv+flu vaccine you have to check carefully by experts or vaccine producers directly, i am afraid normal doctors have no data to say
usually flu requires 2 weeks for making other vaccines, last year h1n1 vaccine and normal flu vaccine needed about 2 weeks apart
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Avatar universal
ok I just checked that HBIG should be administered within 14 days, thanks a lot for your reply and time.
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Avatar universal
The immune globulins should be started within 24 hours to infection?
I need to wait for my flu to be over to be able to get the hbv vaccine according to the doctor there. Won't that be too late?
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Avatar universal
I am sorry I wrote the part  below wrong
I am sure that the second needle wasn't infected  and I am 90% sure that the second needle didn't break his skin but I am currently petrified by the idea of getting HBV like that! There was no blood on my gloves after I used the first needle on him but I need to get some reassurance maybe...


the second needle that picked me I am 1000% sure it didn't pick him .
it is the fact that I am only 90% sure that the first one didnt break his skin or shed any blood that is bothering me...a lot.
Helpful - 0
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