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Safety Precautions and Operating Procedures in an (A)BSL-4 Laboratory: 2. General Practices
Published on: October 3, 2016
Simian immunodeficiency virus needlestick accident in a laboratory worker.
R F Khabbaz1, T Rowe, M Murphey-Corb
1Retrovirus Disease Branch, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
Lancet (London, England)
|August 1, 1992
Summary
A laboratory worker exposed to simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) showed SIV antibodies but no signs of infection. Strict safety protocols are crucial when handling SIV-infected macaques.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Primatology
- Occupational Health
Background:
- The macaque monkey model is crucial for studying simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
- Accidental exposures in laboratory settings pose potential risks to researchers and animal handlers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the outcome of a laboratory worker accidentally exposed to blood from an SIV-infected macaque.
- To determine if the exposure resulted in SIV infection in the worker.
Main Methods:
- Serological testing for SIV antibodies in the exposed worker.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cell cultures to detect SIV in the worker's blood.
- Inoculation of an SIV-negative monkey with the worker's blood.
Main Results:
- The worker developed antibodies reactive to SIV within three months post-exposure.
- Antibody titers peaked between months three and five, then declined.
- No evidence of SIV infection was found in the worker via PCR or cell culture.
- An SIV-negative monkey inoculated with the worker's blood did not become infected.
Conclusions:
- Despite serological evidence, the laboratory worker did not appear to be productively infected with SIV.
- Highlights the importance of strict adherence to safety procedures when working with SIV-infected macaques and specimens.
- Reinforces the need for vigilance in preventing accidental exposures in research environments.
