Possible injury with used lancet

[skrogramer888]

Dear doctor,

I had a terrifying anxiety inducing situation this morning. I had recently moved to a new cubicle and desk at work, and while organizing the cables under the desk noticed a plastic device with a short needle of some sort. I'm not sure if I pricked myself as the area under my desk was dark and there was a lot of "activity" moving the wires and such, there was a white round blister on my index finger that I discovered afterwards.

The device was not visibly soiled in blood as far as I could tell. It had a transparent plastic casing with lines of metal inside and a small ~1cm needle sticking out.

Later on, after consulting with the company clinic on campus and after showing them the device and the blister on my hand, the nurse said that it was a needle lancet used for blood sugar tests. They referred me to a hospital for further evaluation as this was part of their standard process for medical injuries.

This cubicle and desk had been vacant for ~ 20 days, though a technician was present a day before this incident. Based on the location of the lancet (hard to find), I find it doubtful that this was a freshly used lancet someone used immediately before I discovered it.

At the hospital, they did not perscribe PEP, and asked me to follow up with my primary care physician only as needed (and basically told me to try and forget about the whole thing and move on), and told me that this was pretty low to no risk.

Is there any cause for HIV and/or Hepatitis concerns out of this incident if I grazed or poked my hand with the lancet? Could this device hold blood like a syringe within its plastic casing?

Thank you for your feedback.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum. there is little risk of infection from this exposure.  I say this for a number of reasons.  These include:

1.  Presuming this was a used lancet, it is unlikely that the person who had HIV, hepatitis or nay other blood borne infection.
2.  If they did, it is unlikely that there was blood left on the lancet. Unlike needles in which blood can stay in the inside of the needles, lancets of the sort you stuck yourself with are hollow and therefore blood does not stay in/on them.
3.  HIV and most viruses die quickly on exposure to the environment.  Thus, had there been virus present, it would have been dead.
4. From what you say, your injury was superficial and did not draw blood, thus was not deep enough to put you at risk.

Putting all of these facts together, it is unlikely that you are in any meaningful danger from this event. You did absolutely the right thing to do to report it but I would not worry about it.

I hope my analysis and comments are helpful. EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I presumed that your emplyee health people had done that.  I doubt that there is any prupose to doing so unless it would provide you with peace of mind.  As I said, the likelyhood that you were exposed to any blood borne infectious disease in this event is very, very low.  EWH

[skrogramer888]

Thanks for the prompt reply Dr. Hook. I'm a bit more at ease.

Sorry for just 1 more follow up question - do you think testing is needed on account of this incident alone?