Is It Safe To Reuse Blood Sample Bags?

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Specializes in Emergency.

I recently began working in a different hospital and it has some policies that are very different than I am used to. Some better and a few that worry me.

When we draw blood, we properly label the tubes and put them in a traditional biohazard bag, then inside another, and then send them to the lab through a pneumatic tube system. All very good. HOWEVER, the lab saves BOTH the biobags and then periodically returns the used bags to the ER for reuse. It seems to me that this is hazardous, as small amounts of blood do get onto the outside of the blood tubes, and from there onto the inside of the biobags, which then get sent back to us.

I know this saves a few dollars, but it does not seem safe. I have searched CDC, OSHA, etc and do not find anything really specific. Joint Committee does allow reuse of disposables IF done properly but is this "proper?"

Many thanks.

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Really the amount of blood on the outside of tubes is almost next to nil. (and the caps are designed the way they are so that blood sticks in that little indent in the cap if here is any)

And if your worried about reusing the bags because of that blood that might be on the outside of the tubes then you should be handelling the blood to put into those bags with gloves anyways right?? So reusing bags wouldn't make a difference since you already have gloves on?

Unless a tube explodes in the bag while being sent to lab.. I'd say no big deal. I worked in the lab forever really not an issue.

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safe or not... kinda grosses me out...

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Specializes in Emergency.
the amount of blood on the outside of tubes is almost next to nil

Good grief, I REALLY hope your patients appreciate the fact that you are contaminating them with "almost next to nil" pathogens. I guess that the amount of contamination on the top of a medicine vial is, really, "almost next to nil" so your logic would be that there is no need to wipe the vial top with alcohol before drawing up the med.

You also overlook that the fact that some people, probably a lot more than will admit it, get a drop or two of blood on their glove, transfer that to the VacuTainer tube, where it rubs off on the INSIDE of the bag. When that bag is reused as an outside bag (remember we double bag) some of the blood product rubs off onto the OUTSIDE of the inside bag. Now, when that bag is reused, the pathogens are on the outside and picked up by whoever happens to handle the bag.

And, no, I am NOT germ-phobic. I just do not like "precautions" that are all about appearance and not centered on logic. It would be safer to either just toss the VacuTainers into the pneumatic tube shuttle (after all as you so astutely put it, there's at most "almost next to nil" blood on them anyway) or single bag them, then at least the OUTSIDE of the reused bags should always be clean.

After all, what's a little hepatitis between friends?

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Good grief, I REALLY hope your patients appreciate the fact that you are contaminating them with "almost next to nil" pathogens. I guess that the amount of contamination on the top of a medicine vial is, really, "almost next to nil" so your logic would be that there is no need to wipe the vial top with alcohol before drawing up the med.

You also overlook that the fact that some people, probably a lot more than will admit it, get a drop or two of blood on their glove, transfer that to the VacuTainer tube, where it rubs off on the INSIDE of the bag. When that bag is reused as an outside bag (remember we double bag) some of the blood product rubs off onto the OUTSIDE of the inside bag. Now, when that bag is reused, the pathogens are on the outside and picked up by whoever happens to handle the bag.

And, no, I am NOT germ-phobic. I just do not like "precautions" that are all about appearance and not centered on logic. It would be safer to either just toss the VacuTainers into the pneumatic tube shuttle (after all as you so astutely put it, there's at most "almost next to nil" blood on them anyway) or single bag them, then at least the OUTSIDE of the reused bags should always be clean.

After all, what's a little hepatitis between friends?

Ok 1)I worked in the lab for over 3 years... the very few rare occasions I got blood on my hands I used those germicidal wipes to clean the tubes PRIOR to touching htem ungloved.

2) The caps of the tubes are DESIGNED that way to keep if there is any blood there in the cap (if there is any at all). and it dries up... I'm not sure where or how you handle your tubes but I have never seen anyone sticking their fingers in there to touch. Have you?

3) the blood goes into the bags for the lab technicians safety. IF a tube were to explode in the pneumatic system because someone didn't pad the tube or tube was weakened in some way... then the mess is contined in the bag nice and neat, and free from harm for the lab techcians. Its far easier to toss that bag full of blood, sharp plastic or glass than to properly clean out one of those pneumatic tubes. (trust me.. its gross)

4) I personally don't touch specimines without gloves on. Period. No way. If I seen the bags weren't brand new because you can tell they have been used once before. I would wear gloves. That is just me because I don't know what the person using it before me did. Also anybags that do get contaiminated are thrown away while in the lab.. its not like they are sending you back bags with pee and blood in them.

5) How am I contaminating my patients with next to nil pathogens? I take their blood in their tubes in my gloved hands out of the room in the dirty supply to put their blood in the bags. (just so we are clear here, IF there i anything on my gloves I remove the contaminated gloves and put on new ones prior to leaving room) I then remove my gloves, wash my hands and then tube the blood to lab. The whole point to the vacutainer system is to be safer for people drawing up the blood, because you don't use needles and syringes any more and you don't get the blood mess it used to be. I have yet to see someone properly use the vacutainer system and have blood on their hands. (WAIT on one case.. it was a blue top glass container and unknown to the tech the tube had a crack in it... so when she went to pull off the tube it broke and blood was everyweher).

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Specializes in ER, ICU,.

I could think of other ways to save money!!

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I have recently joined this site because like ER John, I have started working at a facility that also reuses BioHazardous specimen bags. But, I work in an Endo department where I KNOW the specimen containers are placed within the bag from the actual field (the tech has poo all over their gloves when handling the containers that go into the BioHaz bags.)

This is just WRONG!! There are seriously sick patients that come into my department for scopes to rule out such cases as C-diff. When I take the specimens to the lab I beg them to NOT reuse the bags!

These bags may not be visibly soiled but I know there is e-coli all over them.

What can I do?

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