Thanks for the kick in the butt I needed it and now I have your answer to forever reference thank you again.
No, I did not miss your last post. I also do not monitor the site 24/7.
There are no numbers regarding the frequency of needle re-use in developed nations. The practice is prohibited and great measures are taken at all levels to avoid such practices making needle re-use so rare as to not be measurable.
As for your risk - also immeasurably low. You have a negative test almost six months after your very low risk exposure. F
Forget about this. You do not have HIV and are not at risk from any of the activities you have described. To help, I will not fuel your anxieties further by continuing this thread. Your questions have been answered, you are not at risk and do not have HIV. It is time for you to put all of this behind you and move forward. EWH
Doctor,
did you miss my last post?
Dr,
Are there any statistics on this type of thing, reused needles in a healthcare setting? Or is this such a non-event that it is not considered any more of a risk than kissing, hand holding and other non-events. I have been reading some of the community posts and the posters there all seem to tell people asking similar questions that the idea is ridiculous and an obvious no risk. It is at least an assumed risk as there are more than a few questions in that direction so perhaps this post could end that once and for all. I also read the risks of contracting HIV with a known HIV needle in an occupational setting is only .32% so it seems the odds are ridiculously lower than having oral sex which was my main concern. Thanks I look forward to your answers.
your advice and the compassionate way you delivered it is appreciated beyond measure. Thank you very much for giving me a new lease on life, I was thoroughly punishing myself likely due to guilt but I think I have figured out how to manage that now that I KNOW I am healthy. Best wishes.
Let's get this behind you. There is no way that you have HIV. If you had, one of the many tests that you had would have been positive. Straight to your questions:
1. No, there is no risk of HIV from having your blood drawn in a physician's office. The doctors do not re-use needles. The risk from needles occurs when they are re-used and the blood from the person who the needle was used on previously enters the next person, carrying along with it the virus. The medical profession has strict procedures to prevent this from happening.
2. Absolutely. We recommend that no further testing is needed after 12 weeks (84 days) at the outside.
3. Yes
4. Yes, see my explanation no. 1.
5. No further testing is required. Further testing would be a waste of time and money from a medical perspective and, from a personal perspective would just represent you continuing to punish yourself unnecessarily.
Time to move on without concern. Take care EWH