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Human blood sample tubes marked with warning notices for AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). The risk of transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has necessitated a regime of special precautions for the handling of human body fluid samples. The major risk involves 'needle stick injury' with injection of contaminated fluid. This may be avoided by wearing gloves, using a protective device (Needle Guard) when taking samples and immediately discarding needles into a sharps bin. Spilled fluids are mopped up with sodium hypochlorite disinfectant. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGIES & INFECTIOUS DISEASES)