So the first couple of injections was me and some friends … So the first times, yeah, there was three of us who had first tried it, and for the first couple of injections, we had done it to each other, but I dare say, it was very sterile and [we] never shared needles or anything like that. – Chris, Qld
Blood borne viruses (BBVs) are transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. While research suggests that people who inject PIEDs typically do not share needles, there are other ways BBV transmission can occur. Although transmission risks are smaller, these include:
- Sharing any injecting equipment, including syringes, vials and swabs (high risk)
- injecting or being injected by someone else (low-moderate risk)
- using shared surfaces and injecting in close proximity to someone else (low risk)
BBVs are transmitted when blood from another person gets into the blood stream. Some BBVs can also be transmitted through anal, vaginal and oral sex.
The needles used to inject PIEDs are a much larger gauge than intravenous needles, so more blood tends to be produced when injecting. If it’s not cleaned up properly, there is increased risk of BBV transmission. Even miniscule amounts of blood that are invisible to the naked eye can transmit BBVs.
People with BBVs can look and feel very healthy for many years, so it is impossible to know if someone has a BBV by looking at them. Over time, however, these viruses can make you very ill.
It is recommended that anyone who has injected performance and image enhancing drugs, such as anabolic steroids, should get tested for BBVs. You should ask your doctor to test for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. You do not have to tell them why you want a test, but you should ask specifically for these tests as they are not included in routine blood tests. Tests are discreet and just involve a simple blood test.