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Forum Name: AIDS

Question: testing before surgery?

musedeplath - Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:41 pm

I was just wondering, do surgeons test for HIV/AIDS before performing simple surgery like to fix a torn ligament? The questionnaire I filled out asked if I had HIV, but I was wondering if the bloodwork done before the surgery actually tested for it. Thanks!

Dr. Safaa Mahmoud - Fri Feb 09, 2007 5:15 pm

Hello, In many centers HIV testing is not routinely done for patients undergoing surgery, unless there is any history suggestive for that (risk based). The reason is that all equipment used in surgery or any invasive techniques are sterilized before the next use, and HIV virus is a very weak virus that can be easily killed with antiseptic techniques. Routine HIV test is done for those who will donate their blood or any other organ. Recently, CDC recommends that diagnostic HIV testing should be done as a part of routine clinical care in all settings including urgent-care clinics, and inpatient services (patients should be notified). Hope this information is useful. Keep us updated. Best regards.

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