Question

cenario: A nurse working in the Emergency Room is attempting to start an IV on a very bloody trauma patient. The patient starts to seize and the nurse looses her grip and sticks herself with the bloody IV needle.

Should the trauma patient be tested for HIV? Why or why not?

Should the patient enjoy the right to consent to the HIV test? Why or why not?

If the patient is in the initial few weeks of their HIV infection, is it likely that the test will show their true HIV status? Would the test need to be repeated at a later date? If so, why?

Answer 1

Yes the patient should be tested for HIV. As the nurse is pierced with the bloody needle of the patient so there is the chances of getting HIV from the patient if the patient is affected by HIV. But it should be done after having first aid to the patient.

Yes the patient should enjoy the consent if the patient is medically concerned

If the blood test is done by p24 antigen test then the blood test may show positive to HIV in the first 4 to 6 weeks if the patient is affected to it. Because protein p24 protein level in blood reaches its peak level within 4 to 6 weeks if the patient is affected by HIV infection. After 6 weeks it is not detectable by this test.