HIV exposure while working in a lab

Question

I work in a lab that does all kinds of testing. In one area of the lab we peform HIV testing on thousands of samples on a particular instrument that does the EIA method detecting for antibodies. If it is positive we send it out for a Western blot to another lab.

Anyways, one of the samples came back as HIV positive. I was wearing gloves and safety glasses at the time, and I took the HIV positive sample and capped it. At that moment, I felt like something touched my nose and my mouth. I looked on the counter and didn't see a splash or anything and it wasn't like I capped it hard or anything. To be honest, I am not even entirely sure anything hit my face. I then went to the bathroom to wash my nose and mouth with soap.

It's been a week now and I have a cough and congestion, but no fever or anything that bad yet. I know I might be acting overly paranoid, but I can't help but wonder if part of the serum actually did get into my nose or mouth. If it did, it wouldn't have been a large amount but very little.

To anyone knowledgeable in HIV transmission such as a physician or whoever, does anyone think I could have contracted HIV from what I described?

Teak · Answer

Poking isn't the risk. Injections are the risk.

Labrat123 · Answer

I see Teak, thanks for clarifying that. So in other words, it doesn't happen a lot. I would saying working as a phlebotomist and accidentally poking yourself after drawing blood from a patient who is HIV positive would be more risky than my situation.

Teak · Answer

There has only been 157 cases in the healthcare field since 1985 and there are over 900K exposures in the healthcare field each year.

Labrat123 · Answer

Yes I I admit I'm a bit paranoid. But actually thanks for those who responded because it makes me realize how paranoid I am being. This has eased my mind somewhat. 

I did a bit more research on the internet and I read that there have been 57 documented cases of HIV infection acquired by healthcare workers while on the job since 2000 in the US.

It also said that HIV blood splashed in mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, and mouth has a 1 in 1000 chance of causing infection in the recipient if anyone is curious.

LIZZIE LOU · Answer

" I was wearing gloves and safety glasses at the time, and I took the HIV positive sample and capped it. At that moment, I felt like something touched my nose and my mouth. I looked on the counter and didn't see a splash or anything and it wasn't like I capped it hard or anything. To be honest, I am not even entirely sure anything hit my face. "

now you tell me...exactly "where" is the risk?

Labrat123 · Answer

Bump. This is a real question and I'm not trying to play a joke if that's what people are thinking. 

If I can ask teak, who seems to be a very knowledgeable person about HIV as seeing from this forum, could you please weigh in and give me your opinion? I noticed that doctors only respond in the expert forum, but cost $20 which is a bit steep. Thanks.

Labrat123 · Answer

I hope it's overreacting. I deal with blood everyday in the lab, and usually don't care. The only reason why I care now is because I know the blood was HIV positive. I'm not sure how easily it is to be infected with HIV contaminated blood through the nose or mouth.

me21ddd · Answer

Don't you  think you're overreacting?

A very tiny, almost "invisible" amount of blood, splashed on your nose, and then on your mouth, and you got infected with HIV??? I don't think so.

Labrat123 · Answer

Thanks for your response but no because why? I read on the internet that HIV can be transmitted through the mouth or nose and keep in mind this blood was HIV positive. How about we assume that the blood actually did splash on my nose and mouth, even if a very tiny amount, isn't there a chance I could have been infected?