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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is It Possible To Get HIV From Needle Prick Used To Prick Someone Else ?

Hello, so I have a real concern regarding needle prick. When I was sleeping one day I woke up and went to the bathroom, and noticed there was a needle( sewing needle) on the counter in the bathroom and it looked as if there was dark stuff on the tip, could have been blood I thought. Anyways I live with this guy who sleep walks a lot. Ive noticed a couple nights I would wake up and find him in my room just standing in the dark which had me worried. MY question is, do you think I would wake up if I got poked by a sewing needle in my sleep? and I don't know if the guy has hiv, but just assuming he does, would it be possible for me to sleep through being poked and possibly getting hiv from the sewing needle? Am I at risk? Do I need a test? please help!
posted on Sun, 14 Jul 2013
Twitter Tue, 16 Jul 2013 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 17 Jul 2013 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
hello,
thank you for using health care magic
i understand your concern
well usually pain stimulus awakes you from sleep unless you have taken high dose of sedative drug, so its difficult that your roommate poked you and you were still asleep..
well if we consider that you got poked by needle and blood on that needle was from HIV positive person then you are at risk..this is one of the route of transmission..
if you want you can go for screening test like ELISA HIV 1 and 2 or PCR.. but these test are negative in initial period.. it takes two to three month to become positive after infection.. if you want you can go for P24 antigen test it is confirmatory and gives reliable result even in early stage
hope this helped you.. take care..
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General & Family Physician,  Dr. Vidya KR's  Response
Hi Thanks for using HCM.
Q 1. do you think I would wake up if I got poked by a sewing needle in my sleep?
Yes. if there is no neurological defect.
Q. 2. would it be possible for me to sleep through being poked and possibly getting hiv from the sewing needle? Am I at risk? Do I need a test?
Possibility is there to get poked. We cant rule out the possibilities. But chance of getting HIV with sewing needle is less. But get done one HIV elisa for screening and repeat after 6 months just to confirm.
Wish you good health.
Regards
DR.Vidya
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Is It Possible To Get HIV From Needle Prick Used To Prick Someone Else ?

hello, thank you for using health care magic i understand your concern well usually pain stimulus awakes you from sleep unless you have taken high dose of sedative drug, so its difficult that your roommate poked you and you were still asleep.. well if we consider that you got poked by needle and blood on that needle was from HIV positive person then you are at risk..this is one of the route of transmission.. if you want you can go for screening test like ELISA HIV 1 and 2 or PCR.. but these test are negative in initial period.. it takes two to three month to become positive after infection.. if you want you can go for P24 antigen test it is confirmatory and gives reliable result even in early stage hope this helped you.. take care..