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Can Touching Sterilized Skin With Bare Hands Cause Infection Before Drawing Blood?
A couple of days ago, I went for a lab test and I requested an HIV, which came out negative. During the test however, the lab technician cleaned the area of my arm where he was going to introduce the needle for blood extraction, but after cleaning it, he touched the area one more time, wearing no gloves, and then inserted the needle. Since I don’t know if his hands were decontaminated, I am concerned about the possibility of contamination and infection. No blood was visible on its fingers whatsoever, but could the virus still be present?
Wed, 3 Feb 2016
Hi,
Thanks for posting in HCM.
I have read the description posted by you and understand your concern.
Touching sterilized skin with bare hands could cause infection. However, the contact of HIV infection would be unlikely if the area where you got the prick has not come in contact with blood/blood stained products/body fluids.
It may cause local inflammatory lesion or infection of vein such as thrombophlebitis, which can be overcome by taking anti-inflammatory medications.
In case you still have doubts about HIV infection, kindly get yourself tested once again after 3 months to know about the status.
Hope the information provided would be helpful.
All the best.
Thanks for posting in HCM.
I have read the description posted by you and understand your concern.
Touching sterilized skin with bare hands could cause infection. However, the contact of HIV infection would be unlikely if the area where you got the prick has not come in contact with blood/blood stained products/body fluids.
It may cause local inflammatory lesion or infection of vein such as thrombophlebitis, which can be overcome by taking anti-inflammatory medications.
In case you still have doubts about HIV infection, kindly get yourself tested once again after 3 months to know about the status.
Hope the information provided would be helpful.
All the best.
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