Hiv from blood test syringe

[rg_troy]

Hi, So i got tested at a well known lab in pakistan(chugtai lab) 3 months after exposire. the test was a Combo elisa test and was negative. However after a week of the test i had been diagnosed with acute bronchitis and had a slight fever. Now I'm scared that i may have contracted HIV from the syringe used for the blood draw. The anxiety of this has been increased as you mat know of the doctor recently using a contaminated syringe and has now caused an HIV outbreak in the state. Please help, im thinking of taking another test. could you please advse

[mike_no]

I think the issue was that some doctor or group of them at an individual level decided to deliberately infect people by reusing injection needle in a primitive part of your country. It seems very unlikely that a reputed diagnostic laboratory would do something similar. Logically, there is a lot at stake for a brand to do such, it would revoke their license and nonetheless hamper their brand image.

Unfortunate incidents do happen from time to time, however, it would be unreasonable to live in fear and anxiety. I strongly feel that you are worried about an irrational fear and you should forget about this event and move on.

[rg_troy]

Hello, Mike and Anxious, I just spoke to the clinic and they have assured me that the syringe are single use only and a new one is used for every patient. Thanks for the help guys!

[rg_troy]

they are the biggest pathology lab group in the country btw..

[AnxiousNoMore]

Isn't the problem of reusing needles only occurring in the small labs? If so it seems you are safe and don't need to retest.

[AnxiousNoMore]

Can you find if your clinic reuses the same needle? If you take another test, make sure they show you that it is a new one. A conbo test is conclusive after 4 weeks so you didn't have to wait 3 months, even if your country tells you it takes 3 months.
By the way, symptoms can't be used to diagnose hiv, so you should relax and stop keeping track of everything that you get including the bronchitis.  Millions of negative people get bronchitis.

[rg_troy]

hi anxious i had asked them and they said they use sterile equipment. I do remeber that after they had taken my blood, the guy used some sort of cutter to cut the needle part of and then send the remainder of the syringe to the lab.