Hello Dr Frascino, I aspiratee from peoples lumps and bumps and express the aspirate on glass slides to look at them under the microscope and make a diagnosis. A few days ago I aspirated from and ethiopian women and she apparently has tuberculosis. Thee aspirate was bloody but I expressed it on a glass slide. After that the slide was fixed in 95% alcohol for 20 minutes, then in hematoxylin solution for 8 mins and eosin solution for another 8 mins and then dipped again in alcohol for a few minutes. After all that the slide was brought immeadiatly to me to see. There were many blood speks in the sides of it where I handled it but they all went through the procedure of fixing and staining as I explained. I assume after all this fixation any viruses(hiv) would be deactivated. Unknowingly after handling the slide I put my finger in my mouth(bad habit) which was the same one I handled the slide with. My question is do you think the different steps of fixation were enough to deactivate hiv and what I did is not a risk for transmision? The hiv status of the patient is unknown Thanks a lot

Hi,

Relax Max! No HIV-acquisition risk!

Dr. Bob