Proper professional procedures in hospitals and laboratories automatically guard against HIV because they're designed with much more infectious agents in mind.

As always the challenge of HIV is that it acts as a spotlight showing up pre–existing problems.

Thus, if professional guidelines were always scrupulously followed, there would be minimal risk. The problem is that in some institutions these guidelines have not been properly implemented or clarified.

• The Department of Health issues guidelines through the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens and the Health and Safety Executive.
• The BMA publishes A Code of Practice for Sterilisation and Control of Cross Infection
• The BMA also publishes Bloodborne viruses and Infection Control: A guide for health care professionals – see above.
• For dentists the BDA publishes appropriate guidelines.
• COHSE publishes AIDS guidelines for health staff.
• Guidelines on disinfection in developing countries are regularly updated by the World Health Organisation and have been published in AIDS Action which is produced by Healthlink Worldwide.