
I Go To General Practitioner Place To Get A Blood

Question: I go to general practitioner place to get a blood test. They were using vacutainer tube, reusable tube holder and new needle. The needle is new and two way, with rubber sheath on the back end when inserting to tube holder. The tube is vacuum and pull the blood from the needle. Everything is new except reusable tube holder. After getting test for hep c on Tuesday, I go for hep b test on Thursday. Before the nurse draw my blood, I notice a tiny spec of blood on the tube holder. So it was changed. But I'm not sure if that tube holder was used for my blood test on Tuesday. My question is that can I get infected with HIV and Hepatitis b or C ? What are my chances? Should I ask for PReP ? Or hepatitis B vaccine? even if I have it since i was born and 9 years ago. My nurse told me that the needle and tube does not contact with the reused tube holder and that the blood can't get it. However there is case in Hong Kong last year that is proved this not to be the case. Apparently this is how blood draw is performed all in the netherlands from hospital to clinic. Still, seeing a spec of blood on tube holder gives me great amount of anxiety.
Brief Answer:
You don't need any PEP
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
Thanks for posting your query.
Collecting blood through vacutainer ensures safety for the individual who gives blood and who collects the blood.
As long as the needle used there is fresh, there is no chance for you to get an infection while drawing the blood.
Not to worry. Yo don't need any PEP. Hepatitis B vaccine will not be of use after the exposure.
You will not get an infection in the way that you had mentioned.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr. S.Murugan
You don't need any PEP
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to 'Ask A Doctor' service.
Thanks for posting your query.
Collecting blood through vacutainer ensures safety for the individual who gives blood and who collects the blood.
As long as the needle used there is fresh, there is no chance for you to get an infection while drawing the blood.
Not to worry. Yo don't need any PEP. Hepatitis B vaccine will not be of use after the exposure.
You will not get an infection in the way that you had mentioned.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr. S.Murugan
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee

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