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What Do My Lab Test Reports Indicate?
Question: Dear Sir/Ma'am,
About 3 months ago, I had taken some blood tests at a good lab (SRL) for a Visa application. But I am now paranoid that the nurse might have reused a dirty needle to get the sample. When I went to the collection room, he had a vacutainer with BD black needle inserted ready on the table. The cap was there. However before throwing it away he recapped the needle and then threw it away. Now I am worried if he reused the needle by mistake.
One month(31 days) after this incident I could no longer bear with the panic attacks and went to test for HIV and HCV at SRL and got NON REACTIVE results for both. The technician said they use 4th generation rapid test for both the tests. I mailed customer care and got the same reply i.e 4th generation test. However I am not very sure. Can you kindly answer the following questions :
1. Can blood draw with a vacutainer pose high risk for HIV in the worst case scenario that the needle was resued and previous patient was HIV positive. I remember that neither the surface nor the tip of the needle had any visible blood. If anything the blood could have been in the bore. And vaccum would have sucked it in other direction. Am I correct in thinking this way? How much is this risk ?
2. Is the test was indeed 4th generation, Is it conclusive ?
3. In case it was 3rd generafion how reliable is this result ?
4. Does this sound like a phychological problem to you? I am meeting with a psychiatrist but the appointment is in a week from now.
About 3 months ago, I had taken some blood tests at a good lab (SRL) for a Visa application. But I am now paranoid that the nurse might have reused a dirty needle to get the sample. When I went to the collection room, he had a vacutainer with BD black needle inserted ready on the table. The cap was there. However before throwing it away he recapped the needle and then threw it away. Now I am worried if he reused the needle by mistake.
One month(31 days) after this incident I could no longer bear with the panic attacks and went to test for HIV and HCV at SRL and got NON REACTIVE results for both. The technician said they use 4th generation rapid test for both the tests. I mailed customer care and got the same reply i.e 4th generation test. However I am not very sure. Can you kindly answer the following questions :
1. Can blood draw with a vacutainer pose high risk for HIV in the worst case scenario that the needle was resued and previous patient was HIV positive. I remember that neither the surface nor the tip of the needle had any visible blood. If anything the blood could have been in the bore. And vaccum would have sucked it in other direction. Am I correct in thinking this way? How much is this risk ?
2. Is the test was indeed 4th generation, Is it conclusive ?
3. In case it was 3rd generafion how reliable is this result ?
4. Does this sound like a phychological problem to you? I am meeting with a psychiatrist but the appointment is in a week from now.
Brief Answer:
No need to worry
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Let me assure that while using vacutainers ALL the needles are recapped before throwing away, unless there is a needle destroying device available alongside. So, that itself should not be a cause for concern. Moreover, let me also assure you that phlebotomists at such institutes are extremely professional and would not reuse a needle for any reason. Additionally, a vacutainer needle has a segment wherein blood collects prior to entering the container. The phlebotomist (person collecting the blood) watches this segment while inserting the needle so that he knows when the needle penetrates the vein. In case of an used needle this segment would be blood filled and therefore it would not only get noticed but rather it would be practically impossible for him to know when the needle enters the blood stream. In short, I would tell you that at his level the chances of mix-up are minimal.
1. The fact that the surface or the tip did not have any visible blood itself points out that the needle was new. I do not think that you need to worry about a risk.
2. The test is conclusive and you can rely on it.
3. It is equally reliable. You need not bother about these technicalities.
4. No it does not sound like a psychological problem to me. I understand that you want to be safe. You can however feel free to meet your psychiatrist in case you feel that you worry too much or if you cannot deal properly with the problems.
Feel free to write back.
Regards
No need to worry
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
Let me assure that while using vacutainers ALL the needles are recapped before throwing away, unless there is a needle destroying device available alongside. So, that itself should not be a cause for concern. Moreover, let me also assure you that phlebotomists at such institutes are extremely professional and would not reuse a needle for any reason. Additionally, a vacutainer needle has a segment wherein blood collects prior to entering the container. The phlebotomist (person collecting the blood) watches this segment while inserting the needle so that he knows when the needle penetrates the vein. In case of an used needle this segment would be blood filled and therefore it would not only get noticed but rather it would be practically impossible for him to know when the needle enters the blood stream. In short, I would tell you that at his level the chances of mix-up are minimal.
1. The fact that the surface or the tip did not have any visible blood itself points out that the needle was new. I do not think that you need to worry about a risk.
2. The test is conclusive and you can rely on it.
3. It is equally reliable. You need not bother about these technicalities.
4. No it does not sound like a psychological problem to me. I understand that you want to be safe. You can however feel free to meet your psychiatrist in case you feel that you worry too much or if you cannot deal properly with the problems.
Feel free to write back.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear sir,
I cannot emphasize how much relief your reply has given me. Thank you.
Even prior to this whole bussiness, I used to have a lot of anxiety about cancer. Even recently when my grand mother had a dental procedure, I got so scaresd that dentist might not have properly sterlized. I went to his office to check their procedures and only after that I was normal.
What is the cause of this chronic worrying. Is it genetics? My mother also has lot of anxiety issues. After the blood draw incident, I had many panic attacks. I used to get drenched in sweat and my heart beat used to rise. Sometimes I used to cry with a sense of doom. A local GP has prescribed me Betacap 40tr and Nexito Forte tablets one each a day for 30 days. It was he who referred me to a psychiatrist. Do you see any solution to his chronic worrying and always thinking about worst case situations and obsessing over them? This is greatly affecting my studies and work.
Regards
I cannot emphasize how much relief your reply has given me. Thank you.
Even prior to this whole bussiness, I used to have a lot of anxiety about cancer. Even recently when my grand mother had a dental procedure, I got so scaresd that dentist might not have properly sterlized. I went to his office to check their procedures and only after that I was normal.
What is the cause of this chronic worrying. Is it genetics? My mother also has lot of anxiety issues. After the blood draw incident, I had many panic attacks. I used to get drenched in sweat and my heart beat used to rise. Sometimes I used to cry with a sense of doom. A local GP has prescribed me Betacap 40tr and Nexito Forte tablets one each a day for 30 days. It was he who referred me to a psychiatrist. Do you see any solution to his chronic worrying and always thinking about worst case situations and obsessing over them? This is greatly affecting my studies and work.
Regards
Brief Answer:
See a psychologist, not psychiatrist
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. I am glad that you feel relieved. We all need to 'think' about the risks involved in anything. This 'thinking' helps us to devise ways to bridge around problems. Not all that goes around are indicative of problems, not all problems are harmful and not all problems can be solved. Some people cannot bridge this gap and therefore their 'thinking' gets translated to 'worrying'. You need to understand that the world will not function 'ideally' but there are many 'realities' that you need to accept. If you do not know how to do it, you can still adapt and 'learn' to deal with them. Worrying does not help. I therefore feel anxiety is more of a choice than merely due to 'genetics'. It is often observed that the successors of poor people are poor. Is that in their genetics? Certainly not. Outgrowing poverty or anxiety may be tough but still doable. Some people achieve that. They are 'lucky' but they make their own luck. Whether you want that to happen in your case is your 'choice'.
You can see a psychiatrist but I doubt how much benefit you would be able to derive. Visiting a psychologist would be much better. He will be able to help you to administer cognitive behavioral therapy which will enable you to cope better with your situations.
Regards
See a psychologist, not psychiatrist
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. I am glad that you feel relieved. We all need to 'think' about the risks involved in anything. This 'thinking' helps us to devise ways to bridge around problems. Not all that goes around are indicative of problems, not all problems are harmful and not all problems can be solved. Some people cannot bridge this gap and therefore their 'thinking' gets translated to 'worrying'. You need to understand that the world will not function 'ideally' but there are many 'realities' that you need to accept. If you do not know how to do it, you can still adapt and 'learn' to deal with them. Worrying does not help. I therefore feel anxiety is more of a choice than merely due to 'genetics'. It is often observed that the successors of poor people are poor. Is that in their genetics? Certainly not. Outgrowing poverty or anxiety may be tough but still doable. Some people achieve that. They are 'lucky' but they make their own luck. Whether you want that to happen in your case is your 'choice'.
You can see a psychiatrist but I doubt how much benefit you would be able to derive. Visiting a psychologist would be much better. He will be able to help you to administer cognitive behavioral therapy which will enable you to cope better with your situations.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you sir. Your words are very motivating. Worring really serves no purpose. You are right. It is easier to blame it on the genes rather than to work towards fixing it. I think I have been doing the former till now. Finally its going to take MY effort and practice to overcome constant worry rather than expecting some medicines to fix it at a go. I ll bear your advice in mind. Infact the doctor that I am about to meet also talked about CBT. I will work to overcome this problem. Thanks a lot for the advice.
Brief Answer:
Glad to be of service
Detailed Answer:
Glad to hear back again. Feel free to contact me back directly if you ever have a health related query in the future. I would be there to help you out.
Regards
Glad to be of service
Detailed Answer:
Glad to hear back again. Feel free to contact me back directly if you ever have a health related query in the future. I would be there to help you out.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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