[Objective]Using cotton to cover needle shafts when removing acupuncture needles is recommended in order to prevent blood contamination. However, the effect of risk reduction has not been confirmed by experimental studies. We, therefore, observed spreads of fluorescent agent, assumed as blood, with or without alcohol cotton to avoid direct contact between fingers and needle shaft.
[Methods]Subjects were two blind acupuncturists and two acupuncture students. We asked them to insert acupuncture needles to people who played a role of a patient. Of the five acupoints needled, we put the fluorescent agent to one point, and asked the subjects to remove the needles. After all the needles were removed, we took photographs of all points needled and the subjects'hands in order to assess the spread of the fluorescent agent. 'We performed two sessions. In Session A, the subjects used alcohol cotton to cover a needle shaft so that their fingers did not contact the needles directly. In Session B, they did not use alcohol cotton. The subjects were not told that we used the fluorescent agent.
[Results](1) In the forearm of those who were needled, adhesion of the fluorescent agent was not seen in three out of four subjects, in Session A. (2) In two of the four subjects who inserted the needles, the adhesion area of the fluorescent agent in the needle-supporting hands was smaller in Session A compared with Session B. (3) In three of the four subjects who inserted the needles, the adhesion area of the fluorescent agent in the needle-stimulating hands was smaller in Session A compared with Session B.
[Conclusion]It is suggested that covering needle shaft with alcohol cotton during needle withdrawal suppresses the spread of blood contamination.