reused needle?

[heavystone01]

i recently had blood drawn at a lab. I didn't know whether they reused the needle or not. I saw that they used butterfly needle. Can a butterfly needle be reused? Im really afraid of HIV infection. anyone know about this,please tell me. Im so worried that I can not focus on anything. Please help me! thank you very much!Please....!!!!

[silverberg]

NO needles are ever used twice, I usually would say see a therapist for your anxiety, but first I would say educate yourself on the transmission of HIV, I see your from Houston, I grew up there and you have allot of resouses to draw from. call the HIV hotline and ask for a class to attend.

[cj29]

I would have to agree with silverberg here.  If you went to a lab, they are not going to reuse their needles there.  Are you usually stressed out about health related concerns?  If so, counseling can do wonders in helping you confront this in my opinion. Keep us posted!

[heavystone01]

thank for your opinions. I have been puzzled since Ive known some cases on the Internet that the nurse reused the needle on the patient. But now I feel a little better. Thank you!  

[cj29]

Be careful about getting your information from the interent.  While it is an amazing tool, it can really enable health anxiety to get out of control in my opinion.  If you search long enough you will justify any of your symptoms to what you fear even if it is completely irrelevant or untrue...just keep working through your anxiety!

[greenlydia]

What the other's have told you is excellent advice. I work in a major hospital and some of my colleagues are phlebotomists, (the folks who usually draw your blood) and IV RN's, (the people who nornally insert your IV lines) These people are extremely highly trained professionals and must follow some of the strictest protocols and procedures in the hospital. Not a single one of them would EVER resuse a needle any more than a surgeon would reuse a scapel on his next patient.
I agree that some therapy might help you deal with your health anxiety but the next time you need to have blood drawn, it is your right to ask the lab person to open the new syringe in front of you. Trust me, your request will come as no surprise to them.
Greenlydia