Needle stick from urine collection cup.. Patient HepC positive...

[Leeleeboo7]

So I am totally freaking out this is my second week in preceptorship and I was stuck by the needle that is inside of the urine collection cup the patient is hep C positive they sent off blood work on her and she is HIV negative thankfully... But I do not want to get the hep C either when her urinary analysis came back she has Trace Amounts of blood in her urine I was wearing gloves and I squeezed and squeezed my finger until it literally turned white and started to hurt I am so scared!!!!!!!!!!

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

1: How is there a needle inside a collection cup

2: Did you report this?

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

Atl-Murse said:

Somehow you got stuck by a dirty needle in a urine cup ! How did a needle get in a urine cup? How did you get stuck ? Do you need some attention ? either you are a troll or you need a new line of work.

This can happen if the urine collection container is the one that is made to draw up the vials to send to the lab for a u/a and c&s. It's a sharp in the lid to aide in filling the specimen tubes.

This has happened to staff who aren't aware of the sharp in the lid.

[Leeleeboo7]

Exactly!!!! Thank you! Yes there are needless in the urine cups that collect labs!!!

I did report it and have been to employee health

[Leeleeboo7]

Ummm..... The needle that is inside the urine cup that you use to draw labs....

[LovingLife123]

I've never heard of that. It seems dangerous to have a needle in there.

You will just have to wait on those tests to come back. Your chances are very small though. It stuck you through the glove? Did it draw blood?

[Meeshie]

For those that have never seen this... its this thing: BD Vacutainer Urine Collection Kit with Screw-Cap Cup – Save Rite Medical

The top has a sticker that you peel off. You can put the tubes in upside down and it works as a vacutainer to draw urine into the collection tubes. We don't use them at my facility but I've seen them in others.

[Leeleeboo7]

Yes it did draw blood. I squeezed and squeezed my finger for like three minutes

[Wuzzie]

We use them. They're awesome. The needle is inside the small hole on the top. You insert the tube into the hole and it sucks the urine up. No need to open the cup.

I'm sorry for your trauma but I have to ask. How on earth did you manage to stick yourself?

[Mavrick, BSN, RN]

Wuzzie said:

We use them. They're awesome. I'm sorry for your trauma but I have to ask. How on earth did you manage to stick yourself?

Beat me to it Wuzzie.

I can't quite visualize how a person gets a needle stick from a urine cup if it has the same needle system as a vacutainer. You would have to try to stick yourself by putting your finger in a small opening meant for a lab tube. I'm baffled.

[Julius Seizure]

Mavrick said:

Beat me to it Wuzzie.

I can't quite visualize how a person gets a needle stick from a urine cup if it has the same needle system as a vacutainer. You would have to try to stick yourself by putting your finger in a small opening meant for a lab tube. I'm baffled.

I would do something like this. In fact, I DID do it, during nursing school, with the vacutainer needle system. I didn't know there was a needle inside the rubber sleeve, so I pushed it with my finger. And then I knew there is a needle in there. It was a very bloody mistake and it HURT!

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

OP, are the Workers' Comp labs back yet?

Hep C is treatable, in case you do have it.

If your blood is negative for Hep C, they should do repeat labs on you 2 or 3 times. Ask when those will be done. I think you will be fine.

Please just be super careful and keep in touch with Workers' Comp/Employee Health.