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CNN Live At Daybreak

Science Teacher Allows Students to Draw Blood With Same Needle

Aired July 11, 2002 - 06:37   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In New Bedford, Massachusetts, junior high students must get blood tests for HIV and Hepatitis. Get this: A veteran science teacher allowed the students to draw blood samples with the same needle.

Details from Dean Daly of affiliate WPRI.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEAN DALY, CNN AFFILIATE WPRI REPORTER (voice-over): It happened here at Keith Junior High School in New Bedford as part of a science class experiment. A teacher had some of his seventh grade students draw blood samples using a lancet like this one designed to test a person's blood sugar. The needle portion should be thrown away after each use, but incredibly, the teacher had his students share the needle. The school department is now getting advice from Dr. Ram Chowdri, who specializes in infectious diseases.

DR. RAM CHOWDRI, INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT: I think he was just being stupid. That's all I can answer (ph). I don't know why he did it. You know, really, I don't think he thought (ph) that far, and I don't think he really did.

DALY (on camera): So no evil intent, but a stupid...

CHOWDRI: Yes, it was just a mistake.

DALY: New Bedford's assistant superintendent mailed this certified letter to 97 families, alerting them to the mistake, and recommending that they be tested for HIV and for Hepatitis B and C.

(voice-over): Luckily, Dr. Chowdri believes the danger could be much greater than it is. He is grateful the students are young, and therefore, unlikely to be either sexually active or intravenous drug users. And he's also grateful that the teacher, at least, had the good sense to clean the needle with alcohol between uses, and that this type of needle is less likely to transfer blood than other needles.

CHOWDRI: Based on all of these factors put together, although the needle was shared, the chance of transmission of any blood-borne pathogens, like HIV, Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B, is almost miniscule.

(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: That report from Dean Daly of CNN affiliate WPRI. And by the way, this incident occurred in May of last. The teacher retired last summer.

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