Question
When a child goes to the hospital for a blood test, the doctor uses a cotton swab soaked in iodine to disinfect the area where the blood is to be drawn, and then uses the same cotton swab that has been used to press on the needle hole when removing the needle. The cotton swabs have all been touched by the doctor’s gloves. Can this transmission any viruses?
Answer
I’m happy to provide an explanation for this question. Based on your description, your child went to the hospital for a blood test. Typically, during the blood collection process, doctors use sterile cotton swabs to disinfect and apply pressure to stop bleeding. However, please note that doctors do not put the tip of the cotton swab into their palm or touch other items. You can rest assured that for safety reasons, you can also re-disinfect your child. I hope my explanation is helpful, and wish your child a healthy and happy growth!