Blood Draw using Vacutainer Tubes

Procedure Guidelines

9.03 BLOOD DRAW USING VACUTAINER

PROCEDURE: Open needle cartridge. Twist to break the tamper-evident seal. Remove cap, exposing the back portion of the needle and threaded hub. Do not remove front needle cover. Assemble needle to holder. Thread needle into holder until firmly seated. Insert VACUTAINER tube into holder. Push straight onto needle, no further than the guideline on the holder. Apply tourniquet, prepare venipuncture site using only the non-alcoholic antiseptic pad provided in this kit. Position the arm in a downward or lowered altitude. Remove needle cover, perform venipuncture in the usual manner, keeping the tube in an upward position with the stopper upper-most. Push VACUTAINER tube forward to end of holder, piercing the rubber stopper. When blood flows into tube, REMOVE TOURNIQUET AS SOON AS BLOOD BEGINS TO FILL TUBE. DURING THIS PROCEDURE, DO NOT ALLOW CONTENTS OF VACUTAINER TUBE TO CONTACT STOPPER. SPECIAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ARM POSITION, TUBE POSITION IN ORDER TO PREVENT POSSIBLE BACKFLOW FROM THE TUBE AND ITS ATTENDANT POSSIBILITY OF ADVERSE REACTION TOTHE PATIENT. SEMINOLE COUNTY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PRACTICE PARAMETERS 2009 Page 2 of 2 Procedure Guidelines 9.03 BLOOD DRAWUSING VACUTAINER When the tube fill is complete and blood ceases to flow, remove the tube from the holder. Insert the second VACUTAINER tube straight into the holder until blood flows When sampling is completed immediately remove the needle/holder assembly with the last VACUTAINER, then remove the tube from the assembly: Apply and hold a dry sterile compress to the venipuncture site. Elevate the arm. To assure proper mixing with anticoagulant powder, Slowly invert the tubes at least five times immediately after blood collection. DO NOT SHAKE VIGOROUSLY!