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Can Lancet ***** cause HIV?

Dear Doctor,

I had gone on saturday i.e. 29th January for blood donation to Asian heart institute in Mumbai, India which is a JCI  and Niaho accredited cardiac hospital. Before every blood donation they first prick you with a lancet and take your blood to ascertain the blood group. During this procedure I forgot to ask the doc on call whether the lancet was new or not, I normally always ask.

My questions:

1. Can you get hiv infected by this lancet prick, I am scared?
2. Even if the lancet used to prick was a used one, can one get hiv infected?
3. What are JCI and NIAHO accredition, are ther stringent quality standards for patient care?
4.Is there any cause for worry or I am being paranoid?
I await your response.

Best regards,

3 Responses
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300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, I would urge you to trust them and not to worry.  EWH
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dear Doc,

Thanks for your comments. I wrote to the bloodbank hospital and they replied in the affirmative that the lancest they use In blood bank toprick owner is always new and needle is discarded after use!

I can trus their comments write and not worry about this incident?

your reply would be really appreciated.

Best regards
Helpful - 0
300980 tn?1194929400
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to our Forum.  I'll be happy t o try to help.  

The lancets used to test blood in preparation for blood donation are single use lancets which cannot be used more than once.  The regulations on their use are quite strict.  Even if someone were to somehow be able to use such a lancet more than once, the risk for HIV would be quite small, far smaller than when a hollow needle is used.  With hollow needles, there is the possibility that blood could remain within the hollow portion of the needle and thereby be transferred to others.  This is not the case with the lancets which are solid, not hollow and therefore would not carry blood from one person to another in the most unusual situation in which they were successfully re-used.  Furthermore, for you to be at risk for HIV from such an exposure, the person who donated before you would need to be HIV infected, something that is also quite rare.  When all of the variables involved are considered, there is little meaningful chance that you could be exposed or, if exposed, get HIV through re-used of a lancet.  This really is not something to worry about.

In answer to your specific questions:
1.  See above.  Most unlikely.
2.  See above, same answer
3.  Yes, these are VERY stringent measures for assuring top quality health care and the best possible care for patients.  They would NEVER tolerate re-used of lancets in the way you suggest.
4.  No, there is no need to worry.

I hope this is helpful.  EWH
Helpful - 0

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