Preliminary laboratory studies of inactivation of HIV-1 in needles and syringes containing infected blood using undiluted household bleach

Drawing undiluted bleach into a hypodermic syringe and leaving it there for at least 30 seconds can effectively kill HIV-infected blood in the needle up to 24 hours after its use. Blood was drawn from HIV-positive intravenous drug users with CD4 counts less than 500. Hypodermic syringes were filled with the blood, left for various periods of time, and then emptied. They were then filled with bleach and allowed to stand for 15 seconds or 30 seconds. They were emptied and rinsed with saline solution, which was used to inoculate blood cell cultures. These cultures were eventually assayed for HIV growth. The cultures inoculated with rinse water following a 30-second cleaning with undiluted bleach contained no virus even when the needle had been filled with HIV-infected blood for as long as 24 hours. A 15-second cleaning with undiluted bleach and a 30-second cleaning with diluted bleach were not as effective in killing HIV.