Aa
feeling uneasy
Please don't judge, let me begin by saying I do realize I have a bit of an anxiety issue with respect to stds.
I went to a public stds testing clinic the other day for a rapid test for hiv, and a regular blood test for hep c and syphilis, and regular urine test for chlamydiaand gonorrhea.
rapid test came back negative, the last interaction i had with a female was 8 weeks back, and i was told that was a good indicator. when the nurse was drawing my blood for the other tests she did not wear gloves, and i am scared about "what if" she didnt wash her hands or her nails or finger was bleeding, and that passed on to the cotton balls on to my punctured area for possible transmission of hiv/hepc or other stds.
my question is 8 weeks a good indicator? is a rapid test as accurate? do i have any warranted worries with respect to her fingers/hand bleeding, or her picking up the virus from anyone else, and passing it on via the punctured area via the cotton ball or hand?? isnt wearing gloves a standard?
and my worry is about a nurse possibly reusing a needle (not this one, but in case in the future, has that ever happened)?
i know some or all of my questions might seem silly, but i am really worried. do i have any reasons for worry? any reasons to test
I went to a public stds testing clinic the other day for a rapid test for hiv, and a regular blood test for hep c and syphilis, and regular urine test for chlamydiaand gonorrhea.
rapid test came back negative, the last interaction i had with a female was 8 weeks back, and i was told that was a good indicator. when the nurse was drawing my blood for the other tests she did not wear gloves, and i am scared about "what if" she didnt wash her hands or her nails or finger was bleeding, and that passed on to the cotton balls on to my punctured area for possible transmission of hiv/hepc or other stds.
my question is 8 weeks a good indicator? is a rapid test as accurate? do i have any warranted worries with respect to her fingers/hand bleeding, or her picking up the virus from anyone else, and passing it on via the punctured area via the cotton ball or hand?? isnt wearing gloves a standard?
and my worry is about a nurse possibly reusing a needle (not this one, but in case in the future, has that ever happened)?
i know some or all of my questions might seem silly, but i am really worried. do i have any reasons for worry? any reasons to test
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I forgot to answer about test reliability at 8 weeks. No problem -- your negative result is conclusive. See this thread:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1891685
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/1891685
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the forum. Re "Please don't judge": we never do! This is a point of pride for all decent STD/HIV experts, whether in the clinic or on line.
It is probable that in the past 15 years, nobody in the world has caught HIV from having blood drawn, or a blood test performed. The testing equipment is designed so it is difficult to use on more than one patient; and even if that were easy, there is absolutely no reason that a nurse or other health professional would ever do that. What would be the reason? So you definitely do not have any cause for worry from either of these testing events.
A final comment -- which, I promise you, is not judgmental. This question, and your others on the this forum and the community forum, as well as your statements above, indicate that you are abnormally fearful of HIV and other blood borne infections. Abnormal fear of contagion can be an early sign of serious mental health disability. (For an excellent example in popular culture, see "The Aviator", the film biography of Howard Hughes.) If these thoughts (or other fears of being infected by germs through casual contact) are interfering with your life and happiness -- as I think they are -- please consider professional counseling about it. I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
It is probable that in the past 15 years, nobody in the world has caught HIV from having blood drawn, or a blood test performed. The testing equipment is designed so it is difficult to use on more than one patient; and even if that were easy, there is absolutely no reason that a nurse or other health professional would ever do that. What would be the reason? So you definitely do not have any cause for worry from either of these testing events.
A final comment -- which, I promise you, is not judgmental. This question, and your others on the this forum and the community forum, as well as your statements above, indicate that you are abnormally fearful of HIV and other blood borne infections. Abnormal fear of contagion can be an early sign of serious mental health disability. (For an excellent example in popular culture, see "The Aviator", the film biography of Howard Hughes.) If these thoughts (or other fears of being infected by germs through casual contact) are interfering with your life and happiness -- as I think they are -- please consider professional counseling about it. I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
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