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Hiv from Blood Test
Hi Doctor,
I was recently tested for HIV in an STD clinic for an exposure that happened 5 years ago. Tested negative (and this may sound irrational) but now I am worried that the nurse reused the needle to draw my blood. I did not see the nurse open a new package not was paying attention to the procedure. What worries me is that the nurse also tested my blood for syphilis without telling me or my consent, which makes me wonder if she made other mistakes during the procedure like not changing the needles, etc. I wouldn't normally be worried over this but 4 days after the test, I had night sweats (which up until now, one month after the test, I am still experiencing); and 6 days after the test I started showing signs recent infection (pus on tonsils, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and cough).
I'm located in Canada. Have you ever heard an case where someone got infected while testing for HIV? Do you think I have a risk for HIV here?
I was recently tested for HIV in an STD clinic for an exposure that happened 5 years ago. Tested negative (and this may sound irrational) but now I am worried that the nurse reused the needle to draw my blood. I did not see the nurse open a new package not was paying attention to the procedure. What worries me is that the nurse also tested my blood for syphilis without telling me or my consent, which makes me wonder if she made other mistakes during the procedure like not changing the needles, etc. I wouldn't normally be worried over this but 4 days after the test, I had night sweats (which up until now, one month after the test, I am still experiencing); and 6 days after the test I started showing signs recent infection (pus on tonsils, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and cough).
I'm located in Canada. Have you ever heard an case where someone got infected while testing for HIV? Do you think I have a risk for HIV here?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You had a duo test, both HIV antigen (ag) and antibody (ab). Such tests are conclusive any time 4 weeks or more after the last possible exposure.
Thanks doctor.
For peace of mind I went to get an HIV test at 6 weeks after the blood test. The test was HIV serology with mixed ag/ab detection.
I`m assuming that had my initial symptoms been related to HIV, then my test would have come up as positive?
Thanks again for the information!
For peace of mind I went to get an HIV test at 6 weeks after the blood test. The test was HIV serology with mixed ag/ab detection.
I`m assuming that had my initial symptoms been related to HIV, then my test would have come up as positive?
Thanks again for the information!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
Nobody ever gets HIV from having blood drawn. That might have happened a few times back in the 1980s, and even then, only in developing countries where needles might sometimes have been used on more than one patient. It has probably never happened in the US or Canada. There is no chance the nurse reused a needle when your blood was drawn. In fact, today venipuncture (blood drawing) needles and equipment are designed so it is almost impossible to reuse them.
As for your symptoms, even if there had been a risk, they started too soon. Symptoms of a new HIV infection don't begin until at least a week after exposure, usually 10 days or more. Almost certainly you simply have a garden variety respiratory virus, influenza, or something like that. If your symptoms persist, see a doctor. But truly, you needn't worry at all about HIV from the blood draw or as a cause of your symptoms.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Nobody ever gets HIV from having blood drawn. That might have happened a few times back in the 1980s, and even then, only in developing countries where needles might sometimes have been used on more than one patient. It has probably never happened in the US or Canada. There is no chance the nurse reused a needle when your blood was drawn. In fact, today venipuncture (blood drawing) needles and equipment are designed so it is almost impossible to reuse them.
As for your symptoms, even if there had been a risk, they started too soon. Symptoms of a new HIV infection don't begin until at least a week after exposure, usually 10 days or more. Almost certainly you simply have a garden variety respiratory virus, influenza, or something like that. If your symptoms persist, see a doctor. But truly, you needn't worry at all about HIV from the blood draw or as a cause of your symptoms.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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