quick blood test question

3plus1

I've had a large number of blood tests in my lifetime and no one has ever used a wipe.

marshallka

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

okay, this is actually 2 questions, neither of which are particularly serious - just out of curiosity as I had a blood test today and the nurses conduct raised some questions.

1) Do nurses still use antispetic wipes before drawing blood? I had a blood test today (took 2 nurses to do it as the first couldn't find a vein :rolleyes:), but of the two nurses that tried, neither of them used a wipe beforehand...I have blood tests fairly regularly, and in the past was told the wipes were used to stop any bacteria lurking on the skins surface from getting into the blood stream. Not overly concerned about this, but curious...first time it happened I put it down to the nurses incompetence - she was nice enough, but couldn't find a vein in either arm, so I suggested the back of my hand (there's a first time for everything, right?). To her credit, it didn't hurt at all, but she tried both hands with no success, and was visibly nervous to the point of almost shaking when doing so. She then gave up and told me to visit another nurse. Luckily, I could be seen straightaway, but the other nurse also didn't use an antiseptic wipe...just a weird thing I noticed. lol.

2) The reason I went in for a blood test was to check my thyroid levels, as I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) while on holiday in the USA, and the doctor also tested my thyroid levels and noted they were very low, despite the fact that I'd just argued with my doctor in the UK to have the dose upped). Anyhow, American doctor put me on the pill to help with the PCOS, and told me to get a blood test to check thyroid levels, but to make sure I mentioned that I was on the pill as this would affect the blood test results.

So, when I went for blood test today I mentioned to the nurses that I was on the pill as well as taking medication already for my thyroid. Didn't notice what the first nurse put down, but the second (first nurse didn't give me a form to take to the second one), but the first one only mentioned my thryoid meds on the form. When I queried whether the fact I was taking the pill would affect the results as this is what I'd been told by a doctor previously, the nurse replied she didn't know, and still failed to write it down.

Now, worst scenario is, doctor will say blood tests are invalid because the nurse didn't write this down and I'll have to go for blood tests again, but like I said, just curious, so if anyone can shed some light on the situation, I'd be very greatful...not asking for medical advice or anything, just clarification.

I think here in the UK as long as the tests fall within the "normal" then they will do nothing regardless of meds. That is all they look for.

And I always have a quick wipe across my arm before the bloods.

Glamazon

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

You guys are a mine of information - I love you! . Okay, while I'm on a roll here (and because I've been staring at the needlemarks on my hands for no apparent reason), if a nurse can't draw blood from the inside of your arm/elbow/whatever or the back of your hand, what then? First nurse said there were no other options, but I find that hard to believe.

Also what sort of things would a GP not be allowed to disclose to a patient via their medical records? Again, curiosity on my part...I'm weird like that (probably why I'm a history student...all that research. lol. Did a course on the history of medicine, but the modern bits baffle me ).

Thanks again you guys - I owe you all!

Like I said in my other post - mainly anything that would be harmful to the patient.

So, if my mum went into the surgery to see the dcotor to say that she was concerned I was going to committ suicide but wouldn't go and see anybody and she thought that as my GP knew me quite well he might be able to give me a ring to see how I'm doing.
It wouldn't be right for me to see this entry really because it is from a third party and could be damaging for me to see it.

Or, if my dad abused me when I was a few months old and my mum had him sent to prison and I was on the child protection register because of it. Growing up, I might be told that my Dad was dead and be none the wiser. Imagine the horror of innocently asking for copies of medical records and reading all of that! :eek:

These are all examples mind!!!

keelykat

I've always had my arm wiped before a blood test.

The gp usually writes down on the slip (which comes with the bag to put test in) that i'm on medication or whatever and what the tests are for etc. So the nurse just reads the slip, knows how many samples to take and thats it. She only has to write on the sample bottle then.

keely.

oystercatcher

WolfSong2000 wrote: »

You guys are a mine of information - I love you! . Okay, while I'm on a roll here (and because I've been staring at the needlemarks on my hands for no apparent reason), if a nurse can't draw blood from the inside of your arm/elbow/whatever or the back of your hand, what then? First nurse said there were no other options, but I find that hard to believe.

Thanks again you guys - I owe you all!

Where I work nursing staff are only trained to take blood from inside of elbow. There are quite strict guidlines of what they can and can't do. A more confident member of staff may try to take from hand but strictly speaking we shouldn't and it is actually more difficult as the veins are normally smaller even though visible.
If a nurse can't get blood then the protocol is to get a doctor to take it, they have had far more training and can therefor locate a vein more easily and also know of more sites that might work. If the doctors fail then we tend to call an anaesthetist as they have even better training and experience, I don't think this would happen in an outpatient setting though.
I have seen patients have blood taken from the foot or groin but this would be highly unusual and not recommended.

Regarding the swabs, the protocols changed a couple of years ago when research found it wasn't necessary. However may of us were trained in the ark and find our habits difficult to change.

marshallka

Katgrit wrote: »

With regard to swabbing you'll find that different hospitals and surgeries have different policies. The hospital i work at (I do phlebotomy AND work testing it in the lab) have a policy that we DO swab in the blood test area of outpatients, at community clinics and for home domicilary visit. But nurses and doctors on wards dont come under the "phlebotomy department" umbrella so i couldn't say whether they do or not. The hospital 5 miles away comes under a different NHS trust and their phlebotomy blood test service policy is to not swab. But i'm sure presented with a grubby arm they would do though!! In my experience phlebotomists and blood donor staff do it great because they do it day in day out, and have been trained to the same standard under the same protocol. But doctors on wards are awful, they've picked up their training at med school, at various different work placements on rotation round clinical areas, they're all trained by different people and they all do it different. And they all think they know best just because they are doctors. We reject dozens of samples received in the lab every day and the majority of them are off ward doctors.

I'd also add that an experienced lab Biomedical scientist can interpret blood test results far better than some doctors. Its frightening some of they questions we get asked by supposedly qualified doctors!!

Are you an experienced lab Biomedical scientist Kat??? What does that entail. Sounds interesting. Also aren't all bloods within a scale range and either in it or out of it?? Do you mean looking for certain things in a microscope within a speck of blood?

clairec79

I've nearly got an anaesthetist to take blood when I was in outpatients and they failed 5 times. They did finally get it in the vein I'd pointed out the first time but because it had been attempted once the 'expert' phlebotomist hadn't attempted it - but she did say that the next step would be me getting it done by the anaesthetist (I do work with them though and one reckoned he could get a venflon in 'normal' venflon positions and I was joking about having him prove his words

WolfSong2000

This is all fascinating...thanks for your input, guys! Interesting to note that GP's can pick and choose what's released to patients in their medical files...I would have thought there would be too much room for potential abuse on the part of the GP - for instance the surgery I'm using messed up, because although they'd known for around 2 years I had a thyroid problem and should have been on meds, I wasn't informed until I went in for *another* blood test, whereupon I received a phonecall from the surgery telling me to come in and pick up my "repeat" prescription...surely the GP could omit this mistake from the medical records if I'd wanted to take them to task over it. Maybe I'm just being a little paranoid, but I don't entirely trust a lot of the GP's I've had to deal with.

Also interesting that nurses are only allowed to take blood from inside the arm...may explain why the first nurse was so nervous when she tried to take blood from my hand *shrugs*. I have absolutely no problem having blood taken and even volunteered myself once, when a nursing student was present once, in case she wanted to have a go...nurse drawing blood looked horrified and refused. Way I figure nurses have to learn somehow, and with my veins being as difficult as they are I'd be good practice, but I guess it's against regulations .

I've been doing some more research on hypothyroidism and have found out that some people have more success with "natural" thyroxine as opposed to the synthetic levothyroxine that doctors seem to prescribe...will have to ask my doctor about it friday...I tell you though, this stuff is so complicated I really feel for my med student friends (I'm a University student).

hermanmunster_3

Hi Wolfsong

I shouldn;t look for too much conspiracy in what GPs release and don't release as far as notes are concerned - we really don't have that much time. I was presented with photocopies of 2 sets of notes the other day as the people were moving abroad and wanted to take them. It took ages just going through looking for 3rd party comments. The practice only charge a nominal amount which hardly covers the paper and photocpying let alone the receptionist or my time. Definitely no time for editing much out!!!

money_saving_diva

I had an awful experience having blood taken recently and I wish I had said something but I didn't - the nurse taking the blood couldn't find one of those straps they put around your upper arm while they take the blood so ........ wait for it............ she tied a latex glove round my arm?!!!? They never have a problem finding a vein or getting blood out of me so it was over quick. But how unprofessional???! Really put me off the NHS especially as I was being prepared for an operation on that ward!!