| Title | Survival of HIV-1 in syringes. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 1999 |
| Authors | Abdala, N., P. C. Stephens, B. P. Griffith, and R. Heimer |
| Journal | Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes and human retrovirology : official publication of the International Retrovirology Association |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pagination | 73-80 |
| Date Published | 1999 Jan 1 |
| ISSN | 1077-9450 |
| Keywords | Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV-1, Humans, Reproducibility of Results, Sensitivity and Specificity, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Syringes |
| 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. |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03149.x |
| Alternate Journal | J. Acquir. Immune Defic. Syndr. Hum. Retrovirol. |
