Question to Nurses and phlebotomists?

I have a question about the needles and syringes used in blood draws. I am always afraid of HIV and about the possibility that a nurse might by mistake use a usd syringe on me to draw blood. Here are my questions:

1- Lets say a syringe has been used before and then recapped and bymistake placed with the new syringes. When the nurse wants to use it again, will it be obvious that it has been used (like it will have traces of blood, etc...)

2- what if the syringe was reused by mistake. I know that hiv dies in air so the only danger is the blood found inside the needle. Will that blood go into the blood streem or it will not since the process is a blood draw and vaccuum will make the blood go from the vein to the needle and not vice versa.

Thanks !

First of all hospitals are now going to auto retracting needles. They are a bit of a pain to get use to however, if you touch the trigger the needle retracts and can not be reopened. So I waste a lot of them.
If you are concerned about someone reusing a needle on you, you should inform them of your fears and ask them to let you watch them assemble the needle and syringe. You have every right to watch it being removed from the sterile packaging.

As to your hypothetical question, the answer is yes you can contract HIV and more commonly Hepatitis which is also deadly. You don't need to have blood injected into you from an infected person. A dirty needle is enough. The chances are slim that, that would happen. I am very very cautious with my patients as well as my self. I don't even trust others to clean the draw site or injection site... I do it my self.
You are wise to be cautious!

where i work, phlebotomists carry around little sharps disposal containers in their trays in which they can dispose of the needles immediately after use. there are also sharps disposal containers in every room......sharps are now commonly made with covers to be flipped over them as soon as the blood is drawn or med is administered, to prevent accidental sticks............needles are never reused, even when used on the same person.....and generally immediately disposed of because leaving used needles around can get you into big trouble.........

They're disposable. They take them out of a sealed package, the blood gets sucked right into the tubes, then the needles are thrown in the orange, plastic "biohazard" boxes, usually on the wall........