A Dundee family will have to wait six months to find out if their son has contracted any viruses after being pricked by a used hypodermic needle.
The six-year-old was injured by the needle after it was left on a No 17 bus on Monday.
Blood samples were taken at Ninewells Hospital and the family must now wait six months to find out if their child has been infected with a virus such as HIV or hepatitis.
The boy’s father said: “When they got on the bus he asked if he could go upstairs. The next thing he came down looking chalk white and said to his mum: ‘I’ve been stabbed’.
“She asked him what had stabbed him and he said one of those dirty needles. He said that it had browny-red stuff on it.
“She squeezed the wound right away and they went straight to the doctor’s, who sent him to Ninewells.”
The police are now appealing for information to trace the user of the hypodermic needle. They said it was unclear if the needle had been accidently left or deliberately placed on the seat.
The child’s father added: “He has to get a booster injection every four months now. We are going to have to wait six months to find out if he has contracted anything because some idiot has left that on a bus.
“We haven’t said anything to him there’s no point upsetting him.”
A police spokesman said: “The youngster had boarded the No 17 bus in Berwick Drive with his mum and younger sister at about 2.45pm. They stayed downstairs while he went up to the top deck to sit at the front. As he sat down on the right-hand seat he put his hand down and was stuck by the needle.
“He ran downstairs to his mum, who immediately took him to the family’s health centre and then on to Ninewells Hospital, where he had his needlestick injury cleaned and received a tetanus injection.
“At this stage it is unclear if the needle was left on the seat accidentally or deliberately. Equally, it is not known if it had been used for drugs misuse or legitimate medical means.
“Police officers are currently trawling CCTV from the bus as a priority in an effort to trace who the needle belonged to and would also appeal to anyone who was on the bus on Monday to get in touch as they may have information useful to inquiries.
“Anyone who has information should contact Police Scotland on 101, or speak to any officer.”