CDC Clinical Reminder: Use of Fingerstick Devices on More than One Person Poses Risk for Transmitting Bloodborne Pathogens

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• Summary
• Background
• Recommendations
• Additional Information
• References

Summary

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has become increasingly concerned about the risks for transmitting hepatitis B virus (HBV) and other bloodborne pathogens to persons undergoing fingerstick procedures for blood sampling -- for instance, persons with diabetes who require assistance monitoring their blood glucose levels. Reports of HBV infection outbreaks linked to diabetes care have been increasing [1, 2, 3]. This notice serves as a reminder that fingerstick devices should never be used for more than one person.

Background

Fingerstick devices are devices that are used to prick the skin and obtain drops of blood for testing. There are two main types of fingerstick devices: those that are designed for reuse on a single person and those that are disposable and for single-use.

• Reusable Devices:

  Figure 1: Reusable fingerstick device*

  These devices often resemble a pen and have the means to remove and replace the lancet after each use, allowing the device to be used more than once (see Figure 1). Due to difficulties with cleaning and disinfection after use and their link to numerous outbreaks, CDC recommends that these devices never be used for more than one person. If these devices are used, it should only be by individual persons using these devices for self-monitoring of blood glucose.
• Single-use, auto-disabling fingerstick devices:

  Figure 2: Single-use, disposable fingerstick devices*

  These are devices that are disposable and prevent reuse through an auto-disabling feature (see Figure 2). In settings where assisted monitoring of blood glucose is performed, single-use, auto-disabling fingerstick devices should be used.

The shared use of fingerstick devices is one of the common root causes of exposure and infection in settings such as long-term care (LTC) facilities, where multiple persons require assistance with blood glucose monitoring. Risk for transmission of bloodborne pathogens is not limited to LTC settings but can exist anywhere multiple persons are undergoing fingerstick procedures for blood sampling. For example, at a health fair in New Mexico earlier this year, dozens of attendees were potentially exposed to bloodborne pathogens when fingerstick devices were reused to conduct diabetes screening.