Hi. I am trying to find out how serious of a situation that I have right now. My father said that today he was hooked up with someone else's tubing(I'm certain that this has a more technical name) and was on the machine for at least a 1/2 of an hour before someone noticed the mistake and put a fresh tube in. He is being tested for hiv/hep, but my question is, should he be tested for anything else and what should the protocol be for this problem? I'm very worried and if anyone could help, I would be forever grateful. Thanks.

Sounds like maybe your fathers clinic is using re processed dialyzers. It can be really serious but the only test that need to be done are the hep b and hiv those are the only test that need to be done. Its the same as having a needle stick. Your clinic should keep up on regular lab work every month. This has happened in our unit once before everyone was okay and there was some disiplinary action that happened to the employee. This is a serious situation.

Goodnes,, that is a definite NO NO and totally OUT OF COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS< IN THE LEAST IT IS OUT OF STANDARDS FOR THE CDC COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CENTER>>>>> guidelines..... you need to report to the licensing agency,,, that is terrible and should NEVER have happened........ I hope your Dad is ok...
I am curious what did the nurse at the dialysis unit say.? My prayers are with you and dad... advocating....

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Originally posted by Linda in Fla:
Hi. I am trying to find out how serious of a situation that I have right now. My father said that today he was hooked up with someone else's tubing(I'm certain that this has a more technical name) and was on the machine for at least a 1/2 of an hour before someone noticed the mistake and put a fresh tube in. He is being tested for hiv/hep, but my question is, should he be tested for anything else and what should the protocol be for this problem? I'm very worried and if anyone could help, I would be forever grateful. Thanks.

Policies and procedures (P & P)should be in place so that errors are eliminated or minimized. Unfortunately, errors do occur and hopefully the process that we have in place reduces the gravity of the consequences. You had mentioned the wrong tubing being used on your Dad. I assume that you are not referring to the Dialyzer (artificial kidney) and referring to the tubings connected to the dialyzer. Some facilities do reuse blood tubings and if this is the case with your Dad, the reprocessing of the tubing should also follow established P & P. The previous posting is correct in that HIV and HEP B should be tested, not only on your Dad but also the person from whom the blood tubing was first used. Also, hopefully, to put some relief on your mind, the process that the tubing and dialyzer are subjected to is to allow a high level disinfection of the system prior to next use. The viruses in question is killed in the process; by high level disinfection process and principles, extracorporeal systems (dialyzer and tubings) can be reused. The practice of reuse is recognized not only in dialysis, but in the practice of medicine. The chemicals used are proven to be effective in the total kill of organisms that may pose a threat to patient reaction. I do agree that reviewing the unit's policy on their reprocessing and reuse should be investigated. You are perfectly in your right to observe and know the process.