Blood Tests

[emmie]

should the phlebotomist wear gloves when taking your blood, as this is the second time the same person wasn't wearing them, i asked and he said it wasn't always necessary, or that they can't feel the vein if wearing gloves?

[emmie]

anyone know, as i am concerned as the same guy looks like he had been digging the garden, filthy fingernails.

[woofgang]

Wearing gloves is usual but more for the protection of the phlebotomist than the patient. If it was me I would be asking the person to wash their hands AND put some gloves on if I had hygiene concerns.

[snags]

I gave a blood sample last week at my GP's: no gloves.

[emmie]

he had done the test before i turned my head around, i did ask him but he said it wasn't necessary, absolutely filthy nails.

[Robinia]

In over 25 yrs of tests I've never had anyone who's worn gloves. One woman had very long nails which I didn't like.

[Baldric]

I've had quite a few in last couple of Months, every time Gloves have been used.

[emmie]

every time i have had them done at the hospital the staff all wore gloves, twice in the last few months, the same guy, but a different hospital, who didn't, i was surprised.

[Sqad]

No, my phlebotomist never wears gloves........in fact with certain operations, I never worn gloves.

As soon as you put on gloves........one loses fine touch, which may well be essential.

[China Doll]

Nope, had several blood tests done recently - no one wore gloves.

[emmie]

strange because everyone i have had done has worn gloves, i thought that was to protect both of us.

[LazyGun]

It tends to be Trust/Organisation dependent.

Best Practice Guidelines, issued by WHO and the various professional associations who set the guidelines for phlebotomy suggest good hand hygiene and the wearing of gloves - but principally because the wearing of gloves is more for the benefit of the phlebotomist than the person having blood drawn - they act as a physical barrier against potential needlestick injury.

So long as good hand hygiene is being carried out, there is no real need for gloves from the perspective of the person having blood drawn. Some Trusts are happy enough to have their staff draw blood without gloves, others insist on gloves being worn.

[Connemmara]

one nurse at another doctor's had just eaten a packet of potato crisps then proceeded to take my blood without washing her hands - talk about rubbing salt into the wound

[Sqad]

Conne..LOL....LOL...

[boxtops]

Recommended, but down to local guidelines in the end

http://www.who.int/injection_safety/6card_gloves_web.pdf

[emmie]

as i said both times i saw this guy his finger nails were filthy, don't get that in any hospital, let alone a phlebotamist. Ok so they don't need to wear gloves, i always thought it was de rigeur.

[emmie]

eating crisps, i wouldn't have thought that was overly hygienic.

[Mamyalynne]

I agree that dirty fingernails are a definite no no, and should not happen. Did you mention that to him ?

[emmie]

i should have but didn't. I would next time, strange that anyone has dirty hands, nails in such a job.

[Mamyalynne]

I agree.

[Sqad]

Aren't we going a bit OTT here?

The skin is sterilised......the needle is sterilised....the fingers don't touch the needle and the fingernails, dirty or not....certainly do not.

it is not a good advertisement for NHS cleanliness....but that is all.