sticker roll

sticker roll

Roll of yellow 'Danger of Infection' biohazard stickers on translucent backing. Used by Leeds Teaching Hospitals until 2022 to label blood sample tubes and blood sample request forms for patients with HIV.

Inscription

BIOHAZARD [within triangular symbol] DANGER OF INFECTION BIOHAZARD [within triangular symbol]

Production date

circa 2022

Associated organisations

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Associated place

Leeds General Infirmary

Labels

The donor, Dr Amy Evans, Lead Clinician in Genito-Urinary Medicine at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, provided the following information:

'‘Danger of infection’ or biohazard stickers are required to ensure appropriate handling of specimens that may present a risk to the public or to laboratory staff. These were routinely applied to blood samples from patients living with HIV, regardless of treatment status. Leeds Teaching Hospitals HIV unit and laboratory staff had reviewed the necessity for this over time and in the face of ‘universal requirements’ for safe handling but finally in 2022 in response to a formal complaint by an HIV+ Leeds patient, they were able to review peer practice and re-examine the evidence base. The success of U=U (‘Undetectable viral load = Untransmissable virus’) and the achievement at Leeds and nationally in surpassing the WHO 90-90-90 goals (of 90% people living with HIV diagnosed; 90% of these on anti-retroviral treatment and 90% of those on treatment undetectable) meant that it was no longer appropriate to indicate a higher risk from specimens from the vast majority of those living with HIV. The change away from routine ‘Danger of Infection’ labelling was approved and another important milestone in reducing stigma for people living with HIV was achieved.

'[They] needed to be placed on the request form also - that was probably most obvious (and stigmatising) for patients as [it was] a bit stark on the white forms (especially if bloods done outside the HIV centre were mixed together with other patient forms without this label).'

Andi, who works for the Leeds Skyline HIV Support Service and is HIV positive, told the museum in October 2022:

"On my medical records when I was getting treatment in Middlesborough, it had ‘Infected’ stamped in red – a bold red stamp on every page, just in case one would fall out and they didn’t realise [laughs]! And that was only five years ago. And even now when we give blood it says ‘Infected’, doesn’t it, even though you’re undetectable and you can’t pass it on…. Hence why I’m saying the stigma is still very real."

Andi's comments were part of a wider discussion of the stigma surrounding HIV - see Digital Assets for a transcript and recording.