@article {1165, title = {Survival of HIV-1 in syringes.}, journal = {Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes and human retrovirology : official publication of the International Retrovirology Association}, volume = {20}, year = {1999}, month = {1999 Jan 1}, pages = {73-80}, abstract = {We performed a study to determine the duration of survival of HIV-1 in syringes typically used by injectors of illicit drugs (IDUs). We describe the effectiveness of a microculture assay in detecting viable virus in volumes of blood typical of those commonly found inside used syringes. Using this assay and modeling the worse-case situation for syringe sharing, we have recovered viable, proliferating HIV-1 from syringes that have been maintained at room temperature for periods in excess of 4 weeks. The percentage of syringes with viable virus varied with the volume of residual blood and the titer of HIV-1 in the blood. These experiments provide a scientific basis for needle exchange schemes, harm reduction, and other interventions among IDUs that support the nonsharing and removal of used syringes from circulation.}, keywords = {Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV-1, Humans, Reproducibility of Results, Sensitivity and Specificity, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Syringes}, issn = {1077-9450}, doi = {10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03149.x}, author = {Abdala, N and Stephens, P C and Griffith, B P and Heimer, R} }