needle

[cureme123]

Hi. I had a old aged doctor visit me for medical check and draw blood. He was very shabby doctor wearing a unclean old shirt and pant. He filled the form hastily and was in a hurry to finish.  A needle attached to the vacutainer holder was already in old plastic bag with a cotton ball in it. He took blood from the needle and put my blood tainted cotton ball back into in old plastic bag  it aftering putting on my arm. He came at 8 am on sunday so may be I am the first patient he saw. My concern is that what if that needle was used on a patient yesterday and he forgot to replace it as he may have forgotten to discard it and also the cotton ball. The only positive thing is that it was early morning and last patient he may have seen and at tleast 8 hours before. Usally when i get my blood drawn they unscrew the needle and attached the needle to the holder and withdraw blood. I asked him before he left how come the needle was with the holder he said i unscrew needles and put them on the holder and come prepared. There was also no sharp container with him. He kept in the same bag he brought my needle attached holder. I am really concerned and worried. Please assess my risk. Mistakes may happen as this was at my home and not a medical facility.

[JGF25]

Honestly, in this day and age people are not going to reuse needles.  It is just a different process than what you are used to which the home draw versus the clinic.  The only thing you can do is check with the company about their policies.  I know what it is like to have HIV anxiety but the reality is that this is an irrational thought that you are having.  I know you want closure so give the company a call.  There is no sense guessing about what went on and making things up.  Just make the call and I think you will feel better.  Remember....our minds play tricks on us when we have HIV anxiety and/or OCD.  We say black and our mind says white.  It is all just one big mind game we play on ourselves.  And in the effort to get closure we come up with more and more what-ifs.  It just perpetuates the cycle.  So you can call the office, get their procedure, and then you need to let it go.  

[cureme123]

Thanks
I also would like to know if the needle was reused would it be possible to get infected. The blood in the needle would have been dried isnt it in 8 hours for the virus to be dead. Also it takes so less time to put the needle to holder but he said he comes prepared. aslo he drew blood bevel down and i was not able to see the tip when it entered my vein. is it common for some people to use that way. thanks

[JGF25]

Why don't you contact the facility he is affiliated with and discuss your concerns? This way they can tell you what procedures are used. Perhaps their sharps container are in the car and he does indeed get his "kit" together before he comes into someone's house. I think if this were my job I would do it this way. Remember they probably don't anticipate getting someone with anxiety as a patient.