Needlestick, symptoms and test results

[Concernedpartner145]

My partner may have been exposed to HIV via a needlestick injury. I have a number of questions, I would be exteremely grateful if someone who is knowledgable on the subject could provide me with answers. The needle was near a group of what we have assumed drug users, and as such I would assume is 'high risk' for HIV, Hep C and other blood borne issues. I am also assuming it would have been used shortly before the injury/exposure.

1 - Should the needle have been contaminted, what is the likelihood of HIV transmission from this single exposure?
2 - From 3 weeks post exposure he has experienced swollen glands in his armpits (not small lumps like I assume lymph nodes would be) but a general swelling. This has lasted 3 weeks - is it a symptom of this exposure?
3 - He was tested by an Oraquick saliva (gum swab) test at 5 weeks post exposure - negative. Does this offer some reassurance? (I know we need to have a 3 month test done).
4 - Given his glands had already been swollen for over a week prior to the test, should this be his bodies reaction to a HIV infection wouldn't it have shown up in the test? ie could we discount this swelling as a symptom?
5 - Would taking antibiotics at the time of the the test have effected the results?
6 - Has anyone had any experience with the home HIV test kits offered by labpro (uk)?

Sorry - so many questions - we are obvioulsy concerned, and would appreciate your response and support.

[Teak]

1. You need to explain more.
2. If that is the only place he has swollen lymph nodes then no it doesn't sound like ARS.
3. To early to test.
4. I doubt it.
5. NO
6. I haven't

There have been over 900,000 needle sticks since 1985 in the health care field and less than 150 have ever been infected. The chance of him contracting HIV from a needle stick is slim to none. It's not the same and sharing needles and works to shoot IV drugs.

[Concernedpartner145]

Thanks Teak, having had a look at this site over the past hour, it appears you have been a Godsend to so many people.

1 - Needle went into to the 'ball' part of his left foot (in about 1/2 inch). Wasn't a 'clean' wound/entry, some blood and laceration. Pulled it out straight away, but at the angle it was sitting, some pressure would have been applied to the syringe section I beleive.
2 - Do swollen lymph nodes feel like individual nodes, or could this general swelling be the same thing? The swelling is on both sides of his body, feels 'hot' and had gone on for 3 weeks. Would ARS be more genral, and usually accompanied by other symptoms?
3 - I have read on the CDC site the average time to detection is 25 days - at 33 days does that reduce the chances at all?

Thank you, thank you again. Please help.

[Teak]

ARS always is a group of symptoms and if one has ARS they have a high fever over 101 degrees. Seroconverson is 22-25 days not the window period when antibodies can be detected. The window period is 3 months.

[Concernedpartner145]

Thanks again Teak!

So given no fever (which I assume lasts a few days at least) I could comfort him that the swollen glands are most likely not a symptom, given they have no associated fever?

Would you recommend a test at 6 weeks for some piece of mind or does this not really offer anything?

[Concernedpartner145]

In reference to my comment above 'So given no fever (which I assume lasts a few days at least) I could comfort him that the swollen glands are most likely not a symptom, given they have no associated fever?' the first indications of these swollen glands was at 23 days - is that right in the seroconversion window you described above Teak, or does the seroconversion occur by 22-25 days? I'm not sure I understand.

It's 6 weeks now, should we retest to start putting this behind us?

[Concernedpartner145]

Does anyone have any further help? Please?

[kiddo111]

I would advise you that, having done loads of research for my case, and having a maid who we found out had HIV, symptoms isn’t really what you should base it on,  its  really not valid, like you pre test at 3 weeks, its testing for hiv antibodies, which by this time would not have been produced, that particular test anyway is less unreliable, go with blood its the best indication, at this point I know its not what you want to here, and im sorry, bt have hope, about your  friend getting a needle in his foot, The HIV virus is very fragile outside the body, but it can live from several minutes to several hours on the surface of objects in the environment which would be the blood, depending on the situation and environmental factors. The potency of the virus outside the body diminishes over time, but the virus must get directly into the bloodstream to infect anyone I would recommend you to do a blood test after 3 months and repeat at 6 just to be safe and sure, it’s the only valid thing you can do, …..ok….wish you and ur pal the best

[kiddo111]

hay i found something that seems genuine ...its similar to what my doc told me anyway, hope it helps with ur worries...type in google ....."how long does hiv live outside the human body in blood"..... than go to the first response ....read it ........im ment to be studying bio ...got ibs comming up ..gotta run