Transmitting HIV through contaminated blood

Did you know that HIV can be transmitted by unsterile or dirty instruments used for circumcision? There are many other ways that HIV is transmitted though contaminated blood.

The HI virus can be transmitted from one person to another when

1. A person receives HIV-contaminated blood in a blood transfusion,
   
2. When a person is exposed to needles that are contaminated with HIV-infected blood in the process of injecting drugs,
   
3. When a person (eg a health care worker) is injured with blood-contaminated needles, syringes, razor blades or other sharp instruments
   
4. Unsterile or dirty razors, knives, needles or other instruments are used during cultural practices such as circumcision, scarrification, or blood letting.
   

How safe is our blood supply in South Africa?
Blood in our country is fortunately very safe. All transfusion services in South Africa test for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, syphilis, HIV1-2 Antibodies and p24 Antigen (HIV). The P24 antigen reduces the window period of HIV to 14 to 16 days.

One of the reasons why it is possible to keep the blood supply relatively safe, is because we make use of volunteer blood donations - we do not pay people for blood. It is a huge problem in countries where, for example, injecting drug users sell their blood for drug money.

Although blood is currently far safer than it was in the past, the "window period" (the period after infection but before antibodies are formed) still creates problems for blood transfusion services.

Because infected blood which is donated during the window period does not show up as HIV positive, it slips through the net and is therefore not destroyed. Although the risk of HIV infection via a blood transfusion is very low, there is, unfortunately, no such thing as "no-risk blood". It is therefore the moral and ethical responsibility of people who engage in high-risk sexual activities and high-risk drug using activities not to donate blood.

Blood transfusions should only be administered to patients when it is necessary to do so to save their lives. Under certain circumstances, it is possible for patients to donate their own blood for storage and later use during and after a scheduled operation.

The danger of sharing contaminated needles

To share needles to injects drugs, or to "shoot up", is extremely dangerous. The HI virus is highly concentrated in blood, and a drop or two of blood always remain in the hollow needle after injecting blood.

If the next person uses the same needle, infected blood is injected into this person's bloodstream - an ideal method for passing on the virus. People who inject drugs not only put themselves at risk; they also put their sex partners at risk.