[Question #12318] Reused Vacutainer Needle
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8 months ago
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Greetings,
I live in India and the other day I ordered a home blood test. The Phlebotomist arrived in my place and opened a new kit that contains needle, gauze, alcohol swabs and gloves. However, before he drew the blood I noticed the needle paper seal was broken so I got suspicious whether this needle is new or used or unsterilised. I got afraid maybe it was replaced without me noticing. Anyways, I did not ask him about it, so he wore his gloves and rubbed my arm with alcohol then he started drawing blood with a vacutainer needle. It looked clean and I did not notice any blood residue but I am still worried about if by any chance it was reused, then what would be the risk of contracting any blood borne infection? Thanks
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
8 months ago
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You are worrying far too much. Professional phlebotomists are highly trained in safety procedures. The seal was most probably opened to make the needle easier to get to. No one has ever been known to be infected with HIV or any other blood borne pathogen due to reuse of a vacutainer needle - you are not going to be the first. They are designed to prevent re-use. Further, even if the needle was re-used, the direction of blood flow is outside of your body, not inwards so nothing would be introduced into your vein.
Please don't worry. EWH.
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8 months ago
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Thanks Dr. Hook. I understand that blood flows outwards, however, assuming it was reused and there was blood residue in microlitres with high viral load, wouldn’t that be a risk? Or how does an infection going to take place? Is high amount of blood needed for instance as I am just trying to understand the science behind it.
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
8 months ago
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Perhaps you misunderstood. Because of the vacuum in the vacuutainer tubes, the blood flows outward, not inward at all. As I have already told you, there are no cases ever proven of HIV acquired as a result of having blood drawn in the matter you describe. You will not be the first. EWH.---
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8 months ago
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I get it, but the tip of the needle will be inserted into the vein to draw blood outward, and during insertion it may contain some residue that may enter the blood stream or that wouldn’t matter?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
8 months ago
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Final answer. That does not matter.
This completes this thread. There should be no need to return to the Forum about this incident. EWH
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