Healthcare setting transmission worry

[Dermaquestions]

. 5 weeks ago I was at the ER for dehydration and received IV fluids. I noticed that on the IV hangar, the tubing was already hanging out of the bottom half of the IV pump machine and when the nurse came she simply hooked the remaining tubing up.

1) why didn't she open up new tubing in front of me like she did with disposable needles?

2) could this have been reused? Any nurses here?

3) if it was indeed reused, what are the chances of transmission from the virus back flowing into the tubing and staying active to be flushes into my veins with the IV fluids? Has this happened before? Or are healthcare setting transmissions usually done via blood transfusion/needle stick.

Last but not least, I tested negative for HIV 4.5 weeks after this hospital visit via an ICMA test from labcorp. Would I have already tested positive by now?  I ordered it with my physical to ease my mind but it hasn't really done that. Should I continue testing or am I wasting my money? I am thinking of calling the hospital to see if I could talk to this specific nurse about the incident.

[Vance2335]

1) Move on
2) Move on

[Dermaquestions]

Thank you, final questions. I will not bother after this.

1) is lymphocytopenia present in early infection (lymph count <1000) I.e 5 weeks after risk.

2) if somebody with an advanced infection has low lymph numbers, could it cause repeat false negatives ?

[nursegirl6572]

Huh?  No, they're not dangerously low...they're not even low...they're within normal limits.

You do NOT have an HIV concern....period, end of story.  You have irrational anxiety driven fears that need addressed, preferably with a professional.

[Dermaquestions]

I also had regular blood tests, all within "normal range" but the below have been extremely worried as this could signal immune issues/acute infection:

WBC: 5.8 (reference range 3.4-10.8)
Lymphs: 0.9 (0.7 - 3.1)

Are these dangerously low?

[nursegirl6572]

I would strongly recommend continuing your discussion about this in the OCD community.  You didn't have an HIV risk.  This is an irrational worry, and you need to keep working on addressing your anxiety.

[clarkja14]

The virus would die almost as soon as it was exposed to air.

[Dermaquestions]

Key here is I believe one part was already hooked to the drip machine, I fear the previous patient was hooked to an IV drip, when the patient left they disabled most of it but left one tube in, then the new nurse came in and assumed it was a clean prepped tube. Possible? Also, how long could the virus live in a tube like that?

[Dermaquestions]

Thank you this makes me feel a bit better. The issue is I saw her open most of the new tubing, but one piece (the section beneath the drip machine) was plugged in before I even was in the room. Which makes me fear it was simply left in from the previous patient before me and the nurse didn't realize. I thought nothing of it at the time and now hate myself for not asking the nurse what was going on. Do you still believe this is no risk?

[nursegirl6572]

That's a common practice, to open the bag and the spike, and prime the tubing ahead of time.  

Your worry is an irrational one.  Equipment is not reused.  You never needed an HIV test.