Posted by Creed on January 11, 1997 at 21:08:33:
In Reply to: Blood in my needle! posted by Bloodbrother on January 11, 1997 at 20:54:54:
: I hear I should "pull back" the needle once it is injected to see if blood comes up into, meaning I am in a blood vessle and should not inject. I have never done this. If blood does come back in the needle, do I need to find another location, or just pull it up a quarter inch? Also, if I did not hit a vessle and pull it up, what will come up in the needle? Some sort of bodily fluid ?
Yes, you should definitely "pull back" on the plunger
when the needle is fully inserted and before you inject.
If blood comes in the needle, DO NOT INJECT. Do not pull
it up just a quarter of an inch either, since you want to
make sure you're in the muscle and not fat. Inject in a new
spot, and it would be a good idea to change the needle tip
to avoid contamination or whatever (better safe than sorry).
What you should see is clear bubbles. This I believe is water,
and whatever else is in the muscle. You may inject when clear
bubbles come in when you pull back.
Remember, if a little blood comes out after you are finished, do
not panic. You probably went through a blood vessel or something,
but did not inject into it. Make sure you sterilize with an alcohol wipe
before and after just to be safe.
Take it to the extreme,
Creed