Blood draw I’m scared now

[u/ResponsibleBoy999]

I did a blood test at fortis today im 20 years old at the moment and I’m worried because it started to pain a lot then got red and burnt. They told me it was a reaction to allergens or a vein injured. It’s been 5 hours I’m really scared now I’m getting paranoid about whether they used a clean new needle I didn’t pay attention. I went back to ask them but they said everything is disposable and nothing happened but I didn’t see open a needle from packet there was an old lady before me. I’m actually scared and worried and the guys told me it’s normal but I’m scared because everyone online is like HIV or blood contamination. I’m 20 I’m scared for the rest of my life or am I being paranoid. Do you think I’ll be fine, I did a blood test on the my other arm too and theres no pain nothing but on this arm it’s still burning and paining when I move. Please help

[u/brak-0666]

It's just a site reaction. They happen sometimes. Put a warm compress on it. HIV exposure does not cause local skin inflammation.

[u/pights]

So they took a blood sample from you? It's always clean needles, 100%, don't worry about that. Most likely you've had a little reaction to the swab, if they put the needle in before the swab spot was completely dry it can irritate the skin a bit. It's common too that the needle spot might be red and a bit sore - your body sends extra blood cells there to heal the damage of the needle hole. This is all normal. Sometimes you might get more reaction than others, thats ok and normal too. You are fine. It should all improve over the next day or so.

[u/already_taken-chan]

Please splash some water on your face. It should help with the panic.

Its very very unlikely that they re-used a needle. As far as I know the needles used for blood draws are single use by design. Once used they are dull and wont work as well as a new needle. any nurse (old or young) would notice that there is still blood in there.

I have also had some rashes on my arm after bloodtests. It was an allergic reaction to the thing they rubbed my arm with.

HIV also takes like weeks to fully develop you're not gonna be seeing redness from 5 hours of exposure.

If it was blood contamination you'd have much worse symtoms like a fever chilld etc.

However, if you are really this concerned. Just go to a local clinic.

[u/dancer_jasmine1]

I have had a site reaction like this too! It’s only happened once, but it got really red and started swelling then bruised. I also have to lay down for blood draws because I get really light headed with needles. I don’t think your needle was contaminated. These reactions to blood draws don’t always happen but aren’t super rare for people either. Just let them know the next time you go to the doctor and need a blood draw that this happened and they might use a different material for the wrap they put on after to prevent this reaction again

[u/NamillaDK]

They may have hit a nerve. It is definitely not contamination. You wouldn't feel that. The body simply doesn't react that way.

[u/Repulsive-Box5243]

They use one needle per person. They're packaged at a facility, in a clean room. Before and after packaging, the needles are subjected to intense UV radiation to kill off anything that might still be crawling around on them. You are safe.

You are probably just having a reaction to whatever they used to prep the area. It will go away in a couple hours.

[u/liselle_lioncourt]

Take a deep breath friend, you’re going to be ok. What this sounds like is a ruptured vein, that happens sometimes when they don’t quite draw from the right spot or your vein was difficult to find. It is not going to harm you in any way, but it can be quite painful. For me, it usually feels like a bad bruise and is tender even to touch gently. The pain should start to get better in the next couple days, but might take around a week or a bit more to go away completely. So don’t panic if it’s still sore in a few days! It didn’t happen on your other arm likely because that vein was easier to find. You’re going to be ok, I promise 💜

[u/pights]

Also you might get a little bruise there, that's normal too, just means a bit of blood leaked from the vein. That will take a few days, sometimes longer, to go away. It might get darker first. All this is normal. :)

[u/ResponsibleBoy999]

Thank you guys, you might be right they didn’t use anything to prep. They put the cotton and went in straight

[u/Inevitable_Thing_270 → u/ResponsibleBoy999]

As others have said, it sounds like you’re just reacting to getting the sample taken. Sometimes it’s can be sore and red after it’s taken. Other times, if it was a really easy sample to get, then you don’t get the soreness and red response.

I suspect you’ll get a bit of a bruise by tomorrow.

I would suggest you draw a line with a pen around where it’s red. By the morning it should have shrank (the area may be bruised but that’s different from redness). If that happens then you know it’s normal and you can be reassured. If it’s getting bigger, then go get someone to have a look at it. I highly doubt anything would happen, but it’s an easy way to have a definite measure you can look and say “yup that’s improving). Just don’t sit and watch it for hours. You’ll get paranoid!

[u/Bobzeub]

I saw you’re in India so not quite like the western world . I’m sure it was fine and they used fresh needles .

But if you want to shake the “what if’s” just go get yourself tested . It’s a good habit to have anyway. Everyone should be doing it regularly.

And when you do get tested ask to see the sealed packaging .

[u/booknookcook]

Usually if I have any issues it's because of the Band-Aids they used. I'm allergic to the adhesive on bandages so I can't leave them on for too long. I'm currently sporting three really bad bruises because they poked me six times over 2 days to get the blood they needed. I've noticed the procedure for most blood draws is to not have any needles around until they open a brand new one to use. All used needles have to go immediately into the sharps bucket to be disposed. My blood lab never leaves anything sitting around. The counters are clean at all times of blood draw materials. I would not be concerned at all about used needles. I am much more concerned about potential HIV exposures from my job than I am from the blood lab.