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Safety Precautions and Operating Procedures in an (A)BSL-4 Laboratory: 2. General Practices
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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
PubMed

Insights

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.

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