Having blood taken...

[andyoxon]

I didn't have the bottle to say to the phleb today at the GP's surgery 'aren't you going to use a sterile alcohol swab on my arm first' before she stuck the needle in my vein.  Is this normal practice to forego aseptic precautions these days?  This happened to me last year too.  What if the cat had been in my arms earlier, or I'd been out in the garden carrying something beforehand?

[mrcharly-YHT]

they don't when you donate blood either.

Ruth and Helly explained why. Not much gets in the hole - wiping with sterile swab isn't enough, area should be washed and swabbed with iodine or similar if you really want asepsis.

The alcohol on the swabs makes the needle hole sting as well.

[jogler]

needle= jogler faints

[tatanab]

they don't when you donate blood either.

I most recently gave blood 3 weeks ago and they did something liek that.  They wipe the area with a swab of some sort for a clear minute, or maybe 30 seconds - it is on a timer. 

[hellymedic]

Those swabs make naff-all difference to the chances of infection.
If they turn grey-black when used, they're a good indication of lack of personal hygieine.

The swabs are very good for:
Cleaning spectacle lenses
Cleaning computer screens
Removing ballpoint stains
Restarting ballpoint pens
Reducing the bug count on stethescopes, bleeps and phones

[Palinurus]

they don't when you donate blood either.

I most recently gave blood 3 weeks ago and they did something liek that.  They wipe the area with a swab of some sort for a clear minute, or maybe 30 seconds - it is on a timer.

They've been doing that recently, wasn't always the case.

[andyoxon]

Those swabs make naff-all difference to the chances of infection.
If they turn grey-black when used, they're a good indication of lack of personal hygieine.

The swabs are very good for:
Cleaning spectacle lenses
Cleaning computer screens
Removing ballpoint stains
Restarting ballpoint pens
Reducing the bug count on stethescopes, bleeps and phones

Fair enough; but what if you happened to be immunocompromised in some way (I'm not AFAIA). <Remembering the 'eggshell skull' doctrine in law>

[tatanab]

They've been doing that recently, wasn't always the case.

They get their little fetishes for a while.  For about a year they've been trying to get me to drink almost a pint of water immediately before giving blood.  They get confused when I turn it down and write copious notes about my refusal.  it is a 20 minute walk to the donor place and I would simply not get home without bladder discomfort if I did drink it.

The silly one that they have recently dropped - they used to ask you to use an alcohol hand gel when going into the waiting room.  This is just before you handle the donor information book and the magazines etc all of which must be crawling with nasties - absolutely crazy.

[Eccentrica Gallumbits]

Those swabs make naff-all difference to the chances of infection.
If they turn grey-black when used, they're a good indication of lack of personal hygieine.

The swabs are very good for:
Cleaning spectacle lenses
Cleaning computer screens
Removing ballpoint stains
Restarting ballpoint pens
Reducing the bug count on stethescopes, bleeps and phones

+ drying up spots. I used to nick them by the pocketful for that. 

[Nuncio]

I most recently gave blood 3 weeks ago and they did something liek that. 

Are you Type O?

[Kim]

+ drying up spots. I used to nick them by the pocketful for that. 

Me too.  Beats fluclox.

[tatanab]

I most recently gave blood 3 weeks ago and they did something like that. 

Are you Type O?

O+ that's me.