Taking blood samples for HIV+ patients?

[Yixian]

I'm doing a research project in the summer on HIV, and it will probably involve taking lots of blood samples from +ve patients. Does anyone have any tips for taking blood from patients like this? Anything I should bare in mind?

[melon]

Always wear gloves. Use a butterfly needle with a 'safe' mechanism where the needle can be withdrawn into the body of the butterfly itself as soon as it is removed from the vein. Always have a sharps box next to you with plenty of space in for the used needle. Mark the specimens as high risk so nobody in the lab processing the samples is at risk.

So long as you are not a complete butter fingers you are very unlikely to stick yourself with a contaminated sharp. Though I would familiarise yourself with the local policy on what to do if this does happen, such as expressing blood from the wound and contacting occupational health.

[Yixian]

Thanks melon! I'm going to try and make sure these butterfly needles are available, after all I might be taking quite a few samples.

[rjm]

Essentially when doing any procedure (venepuncture/cannulation/chest drain/LP etc) you should assume that every patient is HIV positive,. The above advice should apply to all patients not just those with know blood borne diseases.

[Nurse_to_doctor]

Hi,

I'm a TB/HIV co-infection Research Nurse at Imperial. I take a LOT of bloods from those with HIV (often they have low CD4 and high VL - a resurface of TB often casues this) at HIV and TB clinics at 3 London hospitals, every day. I also take samples from BAL and EBUS. Anyway, I agree with everything that has been said. The 'saftey-Lok' blood collection sets are great - keep to vacutainers, if you can and avoid syringes (I have to use a 30ml one for research bloods, however). keep good hand washing techniques, too.

If you do get a needle stick injury - go straight to OH (A&E outside hours). However, the best remidy is NOT to get a needle stick injury. Take your time, set everything up and then treat the end of the needle as potential death! if you plan your blood taking and make sure a sharps box is VERY close to you, then you will be fine.

Good luck,

N2D
PM me if you have any worries or fears about taking bloods.

[Yixian]

Hi,

I'm a TB/HIV co-infection Research Nurse at Imperial. I take a LOT of bloods from those with HIV (often they have low CD4 and high VL - a resurface of TB often casues this) at HIV and TB clinics at 3 London hospitals, every day. I also take samples from BAL and EBUS. Anyway, I agree with everything that has been said. The 'saftey-Lok' blood collection sets are great - keep to vacutainers, if you can and avoid syringes (I have to use a 30ml one for research bloods, however). keep good hand washing techniques, too.

If you do get a needle stick injury - go straight to OH (A&E outside hours). However, the best remidy is NOT to get a needle stick injury. Take your time, set everything up and then treat the end of the needle as potential death! if you plan your blood taking and make sure a sharps box is VERY close to you, then you will be fine.

Good luck,

N2D
PM me if you have any worries or fears about taking bloods.

Thanks for the reply N2D! I'll hopefully find out in the next few weeks exactly how much of this I'll be doing!

[Leo2004]

Yixian,

Would echo the comments above - universal precautions
and hotfoot to A+E to get pep within an hour of exposure
if you get a needle stick...

Have fun with the research BTW...

[yazoo]

Essentially when doing any procedure (venepuncture/cannulation/chest drain/LP etc) you should assume that every patient is HIV positive,. The above advice should apply to all patients not just those with know blood borne diseases.

Agree wholeheartedly.

Most important would be to gain skill. Lots of venepuncture before you go. I haven't given myself a needle stick since F1. I've got them from other people's sharps - grrr - should never happen. If you use it, you bin it safely! Never leave your sharps for anyone else (unless the arrest call goes out...).