Klarinet Archive - Posting 000189.txt from 1999/01

From: Grant Green <gdgreen@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] HIV via saliva
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 14:55:49 -0500

>From: Diane Karius, Ph.D. [SMTP:dikarius@-----.edu]
>Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 1999 11:11 AM
>
>>> Because the viral load of HIV in the blood (translation: the number
>>> of HIV "particles" in the blood) is very low (virtually
>>> undetectable unless you know where to look), the infection rate
>>> from an accidental needlestick (with a contaminated needle in a
>>> healthcare setting) is currently 0.2 - 0.3%.
>
>It's interesting that you mention an accidental needlestick. There is
>a frightening story circulating via email about a woman who went to
>a movie theater, sat down in her chair, and felt something sharp. The
>story indicates that when she stood up, she discovered that she had
>sat on a syringe with a hypodermic needle, along with an attached note
>which said, "Welcome to the real world. This needle has been infected
>with HIV." As a precaution, she went to the doctor and submitted to a
>blood test. The results for HIV were positive. I don't know if this story
>is true, but the description suggests the conditions of an accidental
>needlestick. Would this woman be among your cited 0.2 - 0.3%
>infection rate?

Not likely: most of the available HIV tests are based on detection of
antibodies to the virus in your blood. If you're infected, your body
generates antibodies specific for the virus. However, it takes several
weeks to generate enough antibodies to show up in the test.

Also, the HIV virus is relatively fragile, as viruses go, and doesn't
survive long outside the body. When I worked at Chiron, the virologists
were much more concerned when they worked with Hepatitis C than when they
worked with HIV.

Grant

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green gdgreen@-----.com
http://www.contrabass.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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