Re-used Lancets while packaging an HIV Risks

[WorriedIndianGuy007]

HI Team,

I am diabetic and need to test my blood three times a day. I have been using sugar test device since 3 months.

I had puchased100 lancets box before three months. It was unselaed and lancets was in white packets.

I have done almost 100 prics till now. Initially I ignored it and now I am worrying about catching HIV.

1. As there wasnt sealed box, someone used lancet and then kept in the packet by re-capping.
  
  What could you HIV risk in the situation.

2. Re-capping creates vacum and doest virus kills by tempurate in 2 -3 days on lancets?

I am very worried on it  Please answer.


Regards
WorriedIndianGuy007

[WorriedIndianGuy007]

Hi Team,

One last question.

When I go through other posts related to Lancet reuse.  HIV Experts (I mean drs) comments that there is low risk but no risk.

Even CDC suggest that there is a low risk.

Could you guys please confirm why this is discrepancy between( you and experts)?

Thanks in advance.

[CurfewX]

The risk is theoretical, meaning maybe it could happen, but it has not ever actually happened.

The bigger issue here is your irrational thought process - you believe that someone went to the trouble of re-capping and re-packaging used lancets.  That is not rational.  Lancets costs almost nothing, and the labor needed to re-cap and repackage each lancet would exceed the cost of shipping new, unused lancets.  

In any case, it is zero risk.  A cap is not a vacuum seal, which would be necessary to preserve the infectiousness of HIV-infected blood or fluid outside of the body.

[WorriedIndianGuy007]

Thanks I got ease now.

[CurfewX]

The only risks for HIV in adults are:
1) Having unprotected anal or vaginal sex, or
2) sharing intravenous needles with IV drug users.

Most lancets cannot be re-used.  Also, a lancet is not a hollow-bore needle with a syringe attached, and is not injected directly into a vein.  No one has gotten HIV from a lancet, and you will not be the first.

[WorriedIndianGuy007]

Thanks mam for reply.  I understand there is no risk even lancet is reused.

I just want answer of below two questions to keep this thinking away.

The  lancets which I use can be reused multiple times. this is like solid pin and can be used multiple times by using pen like device.  Could you please reply to below questions?

1. As there wasnt sealed box, someone used lancet and then kept in the packet by re-capping.
    What could be the HIV risk in the situation.

2. Re-capping creates vacum and doest virus kills by tempurate in 2 -3 days on lancets?

[CurfewX]

You had NO RISK for HIV, no matter what specific information you add.  No one has ever been infected by a lancet.