Biomaterial Database

Detection of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C markers in discarded syringes and bloodstains. 1996

C Cattaneo, and P A Nuttall, and R J Sokol

Istituto di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, Milano, Italy.

Puncture injuries from discarded syringes continue to increase and testing these syringes for viral markers of HIV, HBV and HCV infection is now frequently requested. Workers in forensic medicine also regularly deal with potentially infected material. A simulation study was carried out. Syringes (with attached needles) and cotton gauze were contaminated with HIV, HBV and HCV infected blood or serum and tested at intervals over five weeks. Sensitive ELISA techniques, giving a result within three hours, were used to detect viral antibodies (HIV, HCV) or antigens (HBV). Blood residues inside the syringes and on the gauze gave positive results for viral markers throughout the period of study; the needle-tips gave intermittently positive reactions. It was concluded that standard ELISAs for detecting markers of HIV, HBV and HCV could provide valuable guidance on potential infection hazards of material being examined in a forensic situation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009339	Needles	Sharp instruments used for puncturing or suturing.	Hypodermic Needles,Hypodermic Needle,Needle,Needle, Hypodermic,Needles, Hypodermic
D001769	Blood	The body fluid that circulates in the vascular system (BLOOD VESSELS). Whole blood includes PLASMA and BLOOD CELLS.
D004797	Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay	An immunoassay utilizing an antibody labeled with an enzyme marker such as horseradish peroxidase. While either the enzyme or the antibody is bound to an immunosorbent substrate, they both retain their biologic activity; the change in enzyme activity as a result of the enzyme-antibody-antigen reaction is proportional to the concentration of the antigen and can be measured spectrophotometrically or with the naked eye. Many variations of the method have been developed.	ELISA,Assay, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent,Assays, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent,Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay,Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays,Immunosorbent Assay, Enzyme-Linked,Immunosorbent Assays, Enzyme-Linked
D004866	Equipment Contamination	The presence of an infectious agent on instruments, prostheses, or other inanimate articles.	Contamination, Equipment,Contaminations, Equipment,Equipment Contaminations
D005554	Forensic Medicine	The application of medical knowledge to questions of law.	Legal Medicine,Medicine, Forensic,Medicine, Legal
D006515	Hepatitis B virus	The type species of the genus ORTHOHEPADNAVIRUS which causes human HEPATITIS B and is also apparently a causal agent in human HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA. The Dane particle is an intact hepatitis virion, named after its discoverer. Non-infectious spherical and tubular particles are also seen in the serum.	Dane Particle,Hepatitis Virus, Homologous Serum,B virus, Hepatitis,Hepatitis B viruses,Particle, Dane,viruses, Hepatitis B
D006678	HIV	Human immunodeficiency virus. A non-taxonomic and historical term referring to any of two species, specifically HIV-1 and/or HIV-2. Prior to 1986, this was called human T-lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV). From 1986-1990, it was an official species called HIV. Since 1991, HIV was no longer considered an official species name; the two species were designated HIV-1 and HIV-2.	AIDS Virus,HTLV-III,Human Immunodeficiency Viruses,Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type III,Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type III,LAV-HTLV-III,Lymphadenopathy-Associated Virus,Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus,Human Immunodeficiency Virus,Human T Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type III,Human T Lymphotropic Virus Type III,Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type III,Immunodeficiency Virus, Human,Immunodeficiency Viruses, Human,Virus, Human Immunodeficiency,Viruses, Human Immunodeficiency,AIDS Viruses,Human T Cell Leukemia Virus Type III,Lymphadenopathy Associated Virus,Lymphadenopathy-Associated Viruses,Virus, AIDS,Virus, Lymphadenopathy-Associated,Viruses, AIDS,Viruses, Lymphadenopathy-Associated
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D013594	Syringes	Instruments used for injecting or withdrawing fluids. (Stedman, 25th ed)	Hypodermic Syringes,Syringe, Karman,Hypodermic Syringe,Karman Syringe,Syringe,Syringe, Hypodermic,Syringes, Hypodermic
D016174	Hepacivirus	A genus of FLAVIVIRIDAE causing parenterally-transmitted HEPATITIS C which is associated with transfusions and drug abuse. Hepatitis C virus is the type species.	Hepatitis C virus,Hepatitis C-Like Viruses,Hepaciviruses,Hepatitis C Like Viruses,Hepatitis C viruses,Hepatitis C-Like Virus