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Vacutainer incident
First of all, I am suffering from a psychological condition called generalized anxiety disorder. I went to get a test for HIV, I requested for a syringe to be used however the nurse said that HIV tests are done only using a vacutainer system to draw blood. The problem is that the vacutainer (yellow plastic holder) was reused. the nurse said that the needle only comes in contact with the blood and the plastic does not.
Can someone please explain to me how a vacutainer system works? meaning when inserting the plastic side of the needle does it not come into contact with the holder and if there is a bit of blood on the holder when it gets screwed in will that be a risk??????? Am i at risk of HIV
Can someone please explain to me how a vacutainer system works? meaning when inserting the plastic side of the needle does it not come into contact with the holder and if there is a bit of blood on the holder when it gets screwed in will that be a risk??????? Am i at risk of HIV
Your question was answered to the best of our member's ability.
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You didn't have a vacutainer incident. You had a blood draw. Afterwards, you had a generalized anxiety disorder incident.
1 Comments
well are vacutainer holders reused and if so am I at risk of HIV had Hepatitis C
I would say the same as others that if you have generalized anxiety disorder, the best thing to do is to seek treatment for that. A psychologist can help you with coping skills, a psychiatrist can help you with medication if necessary to get control of this. Constant worry and anxiety takes a toll and if this is interfering with life, it's time to make sure you get proper psychiatric care. That's the most important information we can share with you. Phobias aren't something you should continue to give into but work on eliminating.
What you describe is unlikely. You probably misheard and misinterpreted what the nurse said. The container 'could' be reused but they don't do that in practice.
What you describe is unlikely. You probably misheard and misinterpreted what the nurse said. The container 'could' be reused but they don't do that in practice.
6 Comments
I went to the hospital today and they said the vacutainer holder is reused only the needle is changed
Seek therapy to see if they can find a way for you to stop ordering useless tests every 6 months that scare you.
I sincerely doubt that. It's pretty universal not to reuse those and if they do, they'd be sterilized. Please don't create more worries for yourself feeding our already present anxiety.
I suggest you stop going to hospitals for your twice a year placebo hiv tests (you had no risk as far as I can tell from what you said) and just buy a test that you can administer at home from now on. There is no hiv in the test kit so you won't have the fear that the blood prick will give you hiv.
This won't solve your real problem - only a therapist is able to do that - but you won't make up new fears twice a year about getting hiv from a second hand needle - because hiv is instantly dead in air so any kit you buy can only have dead hiv on the needle by the time it gets packaged and sent to a store.
This won't solve your real problem - only a therapist is able to do that - but you won't make up new fears twice a year about getting hiv from a second hand needle - because hiv is instantly dead in air so any kit you buy can only have dead hiv on the needle by the time it gets packaged and sent to a store.
the vacutainer holder is reused, but I did some research and it would seem there is a rubber over the needle hence the vacutainer holder can be reused.
It doesn't matter how much research you are doing. The nurse explained to you that you won't get hiv but you won't believe her. No one here drew your blood so no one here can make you understand that you didn't get hiv, so seek therapy ---- and stop going to clinics for hiv tests because you don't believe what they tell you. You are suffering from mental illness but this is just an hiv prevention forum so no one on a chat line can help you with your real problem - mental illness.
What as your risk that made you decide to get an hiv test, and did you use a condom?
2 Comments
I have a phobia of HIV so i though test for HIV every 6 months or so for various reasons
Seek therapy because it is doubtful that you will be able to accept what someone here says, since you didn't believe the nurse who was right there and showed you how it works. No one here can provide support for mental illness but a therapist can.
Also see if the therapist can get you to stop wasting your time taking hiv tests, since they scare you afterwards.
Also see if the therapist can get you to stop wasting your time taking hiv tests, since they scare you afterwards.
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