What's Wrong With This Procedure?
The technicians are aware that my blood is infected with HCV. Every time I go for blood work, I remind the technician that I have HCV. It is also stated in my computerized hospital chart and on the blood work request form. I think the laboratory technicians who have drawn my blood are personable, efficient and doing a good job; however, they seem to be either unaware or unconcerned about potential health risks associated with HCV or other blood borne pathogens.
The next patient sits in the chair and innocently puts their arm out. The technician runs their finger over the elbow joint looking for a vein to pierce. This procedure leads to the possibility of a microscopic trace of my HCV contaminated blood being transferred from the technician's finger to the patient's arm. The needle goes swiftly into the arm possibly pushing some of the hepatitis virus into the bloodstream. The virus has found a new host and will eventually move to the liver and start the dragon's destruction once again. In ten to twenty years when physical symptoms of the disease manifest, the innocent patient will become one of the 40% to 50% of HCV victims that have no idea how they received the virus. Let's face it, the virus does not know or care that it is a legal, clinical setting rather than a dark alley or crack house. Statistics show stopping the bleeding at the injection site with your fingers, gauze or alcohol pads involves transmission risk. Very sad, but true.
I am a compassionate person. I can understand the technician's dilemma because some people are offended when gloves are worn. Please remember the gloves have several purposes:
(1) They protect the technician from your blood.
(2) They protect you from the technician.
(3) They protect you from the technician's previous patients.
The last time I had blood drawn in Labrador City, the technician wore latex gloves throughout the complete procedure including putting the bandage on my arm. The vial with my blood was given a bright colored tag indicating it had a blood borne pathogen. That is such a change from the time a local tech spilled my blood on her bare hand and wiped it off with a tissue before calling in the next patient. I was very relieved to see gloves worn throughout this procedure and hope this will now be standard with all techs for all patients.
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