What can be contracted through dried blood?!
Question:
What can be contracted through dried blood?
My son had to get lab work today and he got stuck twice. I notice the after the first stick the phlebotomist threw away the equipment in the biohazard box and touched the rim with a bunch of dried blood. She didn't change her gloves and continued to stick my son. She wiped the site with alcohol but then proceded to feel for the vein and didn't wipe the site again. It happened so fast and I wondered if I'm being paranoid but now that I think about it I can't get it out of my head that my son might contract something. What can be passed on with dried blood. What are the chances please anyone respond thank you.
Answers:
First of all Bloodborne Pathogens can live outside the body for up to a week. Hepatitis B can live outside the body for up to a week and Hepatitis C can live outside the body for up to 4 days. Not to scare you but 1/50 in the USA have Hep C.
As far as HIV its estimated by CDC that one in appx 278 are infected, however 90-99% of the virus dies with in a few hours of drying.... The possibility of infection is greater for Hep C than it would be for HIV....I would definetly not be a happy camper and would consider consultation from a medical professional and make sure they follow CDC protocol for PEP. Unfortunately their is no PEP for HEP C, but their is PEP for HEP B and HIV. Time is of the essence however.