Teacher Conducts Blood Tests Using Same Needle

NewsCore - A group of Australian high school students underwent tests for possible blood-borne viruses, including HIV, after a teacher took blood tests from class members using the same needle, The Mercury reported Wednesday.

Eighteen students in southern Tasmania were trying to test the PH levels of their blood during a class experiment on Aug. 9.

The science teacher involved made an attempt to sterilize the needle with methylated spirits between tests. However, Dr. Roscoe Taylor, Tasmania's Director of Public Health said methylated spirits would not prevent the transmission of HIV or Hepatitis B or C.

"The risk of transmission is extremely low in this age group, but it is always a risk to share needles. This is an incident that should not have happened," Taylor said. "Whenever blood is drawn, a freshly sterilized instrument should be used for each individual. This did not happen in this case."

Tasmania's Education Minister Lin Thorp demanded a full investigation into how the testing was allowed to take place and why it took so long for the department to be advised about the event.

Disciplinary action against the teacher involved has yet to be ruled out, Thorpe added.

Taylor urged parents of the students to take advantage of free precautionary tests for blood-borne viruses and said the Education Department would contact each of the families concerned .