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Potential HIV exposure

Posted , 3 users are following.

apparition
apparition

So I took my father to the lab to have some blood tests done.

The person reponsible for collecting the blood did not have gloves, so he used "bare hands". I am going to sue the lab. This is getting me very anxious.

It went as follows:

1. he used a fresh cotton swab, dipped in alcohol, or some other disinfectant to clean the injection site.

2. fresh disposible syringe to collect blood.

3. used the same cotton, that he had kept in his bare hands to press the puncture wound to keep the blood from oozing out.

4. I immediately removed that cotton and let some blood out.

5. took some fresh cotton, wiped away the blood, and then yet another fresh cotton to press the wound.

6. that retarded lab assistant took band aid and applied it onto the wound, using his bare hands again. Hopefully, he hadn't touched that part of the band aid that touched onto the wound.

What are the chances of having contracted some infection?

What should I do now?

Its about 14 hours now since this happened.

Many thanks.

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • mrsmop
    mrsmop apparition

    Posted

    How do you know the Phlebotomist was HIV positive?

    Phlebotomists don't wear gloves these days and they are to protect the Phlebotomist from contracting blood borne infections that patients may not be aware that they have.

    What country are you in?

     

    • apparition
      apparition mrsmop

      Posted

      No, I do not know if he is HIV positive.

      But, as you say, he wasn't protected enough without the gloves and would have been exposed to other patients' blood as well.

      So my father was indirectly exposed to an exposed person.

      Pakistan, btw.

      Should I be concerned? Or would you consider this normal and okay?

       

    • mrsmop
      mrsmop apparition

      Posted

      Did the Phlebotomist wash his hands between patients or perhaps he used a sanitiser.

      I had my bloods done in my local hospital last week and the Phlebotomists never wear gloves.  I am not worried but I am in the UK.  I don't know about Pakistan.

       

    • apparition
      apparition mrsmop

      Posted

      No... He did not wash hands or use the sanitiser, before attending us.

      what do you think are the chances?

    • mrsmop
      mrsmop apparition

      Posted

      I have no idea, I don't know the level of HIV in Pakistan but I would have thought he would be more likely to contract it from outside the hospital or wherever he had the bloods done.

      Why look for trouble when there doesn't appear to be anything wrong.

      Have a look at the records of the hospital [or wherever] and see how many patients have contracted HIV from a blood test.  You should probably have done this before taking your father to have his bloods done.

       

    • apparition
      apparition mrsmop

      Posted

      Ok.. I do not believe they maintain records like they do in developed countries. Thank you.
    • mrsmop
      mrsmop apparition

      Posted

      I don't know what else to suggest, except you could try asking someone locally.

       

    • jackie56101
      jackie56101 mrsmop

      Posted

      They should always wear gloves to protect themselves and others !!!
    • apparition
      apparition mrsmop

      Posted

      I did speak to one doctor today. She kept mum.. probably thinking not using the gloves was wrong, but did not seem too concerned either.

      I am a bit more relaxed after seeing her not that alarmed at being told of the glove-free blood work.

  • jackie56101
    jackie56101 apparition

    Posted

    Hello Apparition, They should always wear gloves to protect themselves and others !! I live in the US Medical assistants always have gloves even when they are taking blood presure .

    Jackie

    • apparition
      apparition jackie56101

      Posted

      Thanks Jackie.

      I know they should always wear the gloves.

      But using gloves when taking blood pressure sounds a little too extreme.. doen't it? After all, its just normal human skin on skin contact.

      It's probably more that way to avoid legal trouble, but medicinally I don't think it's that need. What say?

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