I was next to my sister while she had her blood test done. She looked away, but I witnessed how a rubber they use to tighten the arm fell on the needle while her blood was drawing. I did not say anything to her or to the technician. But the fact keeps bugging me. Is it possible to contract hepatitis or HIV this way? For example, if the rubber was used on different people and fell on many needles before?
Sometimes I wake up at night worrying about it. Am I overreacting? What should I do?
I don't think you should worry about it. She'll be fine.
Weather it would cause an illness or not, worrying about it won't change it or add another day to you life, but it sure can reduce your life and health. So be kind to yourself and put it out of your mind.
I think it is pretty safe to get your blood drawn.I think more worrysome is the skill of the technician doing it and her precision with how she puts the needle in the vein.
One thing I did notice the last time we went to quest lab, is they only prep the spot with alcohol.
When I give blood at red Cross, they use Iodine. Iodine will kill a broader range of pathogens than alcohol. it is probably more expensive to use. I take iodine with me now to quest labs!
Hi Kate,
I really would not worry about this at all. You sound just like me though so I thought I would answer. I worry endlessly and needlessly about thinks like this. I have ocd no doubt.
If the scenario above has happened before (to the same band) then the likely hood of a virus living on a rubber band for any period of time and infecting others is very, very remote. Yet this is how my brain works as well. I got a manicure from someone that had a piercing on their hand and I was convinced that they must have transmitted something to me. I literally obsessed about this for months, going over all of the possibilities in my head. I even bring my own tools. I have no idea why I even get my nails done because I am so insane while constantly watching their every move! Uggg!
Do you worry a lot about things like this? Anyway, in regard this situation, I would say that your sister it totally fine!
My sister is going to school for radiology and just finished her class on taking blood. I fwd her your request and this is what she said, "The tourniquet they use around your arm is to allow the veins to fill with blood while restricting the others and when released the blood flows rapidly. The area that was being drawn from was wiped with alcohol, including some of the surrounding area, and the blood was in the process of being drawn, so the needle was fully injected blocking any contamination to the open area. There is no exposure of the needle site or blood until the needle is removed and that would be the site of interest for an infection or virus."
I hope this makes you feel better.
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure those latex tourniquets are steril and disposable. Hope this helps.
Thea
Hi Kate,
As a nurse of 20 years, I can tell you most assuredly, yes, you are overreacting. Your sister is and will be fine. Choose your "battles" carefully when you are obsessive. You will drive yourself crazy. If this is a constant problem for you, ask your doctor about it and see if there is a medication he/she would recommend for you. Life should not be a worryfest. Take some meds, do yoga, pray, redirect your thoughts, anything to bring you peace of mind. I myself have had blood drawn and had the tourniquet touch the needle. I have never spent a moment's time worrying about it. God bless and take care.
I think your question was a good one. One I had never considered, and I appreciate all the answers letting us know there is nothing to worry about.
I believe they use a new piece of rubber on each person, at least where I have had my blood drawn.
Hi Kate - I am relatively certain they use new rubber bands for each patient. If you are really worried about it, talk to your doctor or call the facility and see what they have to say about it. If you still think it's an issue, talk to your sister and let her know your concerns. At least that way she knows what to look for in the future and won't let it happen again, regardless if they are new bands or not. Good luck and get some sleep! : )
A sterile blood draw kit is opened for each new patient, and the tourniquet is tossed out afterwards. That was a sterile tourniquet touching a sterile needle; no contamination. Your sister will be fine.
Besides, HIV has to be in body fluids to stay alive, so the tourniquet would have had to come into contact with blood or semen, and have stayed wet. If it did come into contact, the tech would have tossed it out. There are several types of hepatitis, those carried in body fluids like HIV and those carried in fecal matter. Again, if it came into contact with these, the tech would toss it out.
But either way, the tech gets a new, sterile tourniquet and wears a new set of gloves for each patient. Hope this helps.
The rubber band doesn't need to be tied onto the arm once the needle has been put into the vein. I also believe with each new patient new rubber bands are used.
Try not to worry and if you just can't stop then I suggest mentioning this to your sister and the place where her blood was drawn.
The only way you can get HIV is through direct contact with blood if you have a cut your self, through use of dirty needles or sexual fluids. Please correct me if I am wrong.
Unless the facility was not operating on correct procedure, every patient uses a rubber strip and disposable needle that is thrown away after use. Nothing should be used on more than one person from the alcohol pad to the tourniquet, marker (if they used one), gauze, rubber gloves etc...
Hi Kate-
Call your doctor and ask. If they say there is a problem, call your sister and call the place she went. If the doctor says it's not an issue, I would call the blood test place and confirm it with them, letting them know what you saw and your concerns. They may be willing to give a hep series free to your sister to protect themselves. ANyway, I would ask. NO harm comes from educating yourself and asking questions, especially when it comes to your health and your family.