An access disconnection system includes: a material capable of absorbing blood from a patient, a light emitter positioned to emit light onto a first portion of the material, the first portion spaced at least a threshold distance from a second portion of the material, the second portion located so as to cover arterial line and venous line access points to the patient, the threshold distance including a distance from the access points to provide for an allowable amount of blood seepage from either access point due to a needle stick, a receiver positioned adjacent to the light emitter to receive light reflected off of the first portion of the material, and circuitry coupled to the light emitter and receiver and configured to provide an output (i) when light received by the receiver reaches a particular level or (ii) indicative of an amount of light received by the receiver.
