Work "exposure"?

[DamitaJo]

Hi..I work in the lab at the hospital.  I must preface this by explaining a little. We have a machine that runs our antibody screens for our crossmatches.  Basically the steps are as follows:  Serum is injected in wells on a tray (the wells are also filled with red cells of known antigenicity), a potentiator is added and incubates at 37 degrees for 10-15 minutes, the trays are then washed with saline 3x, then anti-human globulin is added and this is centrifuged.....

The other day, a known HIV patient was tested with this method....and when I took the trays off (which now have only AHG and known blood cells), some of the AHG from the patient's well splashed on my hand.  I had a cut on my hand, but I don't think any of the liquid splashed on it.  I immediately washed my hands.

I know that the chances are really slim.

I worry b/c two days later I got a sinus cold or something that Im just coming down from.  Im left with runny nose and cough...and I may have had a little fever the first night.    

What do the pros think?  Im kind of worried.  And while youre at it, how long do you think HIV could be active in a tube of blood (with anticoagulant).

Thanks

[JeanClaude]

You definitely should have been using universal precautions especially with a "known" HIV patient. That said, as Teak stated, you should report this incident to your ID Reporting Supervisor. This really isn't a time for you to worry about being disciplined that is your fear. Unlikely you would have been infected due to the "washing" procedure. This is a decision you'll have to make on your own. Use your hospital's resources.

[DamitaJo]

And I'm new here...where is my post on the list?

[DamitaJo]

Obviously I wasn't using the universal precautions in this instance.  Of course I should have had my gloves on, and i usually do, but didn't at the time.  

Yes, I work in the lab, but we don't conduct research on the life span of HIV (or other pathogens).  

Docs?

I don't really think I contracted anything, because like I said, the serum is incubated with potentiator and all of this is washed out of the well, and what remains is a red cell button (not belonging to patient) at the bottom and AHG supernatant after centrifugation.  I've been told that at this point, there's nothing infectious because of the washing phase. This was sitting in the tray for a several minutes before I picked it up. The AHG is what splashed on my hand and I don't think any of it went directly into the cut on my hand.

I guess I just want someone to calm my nerves.  I'm sick with a nasal cold and I haven't been sick this whole year so Im kind of scared. Please?

[Teak]

You work in a lab, why don't you know the answers? Your lab like every lab has guidelines and use universal precautions. What did your ID reporting supervisor say to you when you advised them?