Table of Contents
In some instances, the legs or feet are required for use, but a physician or doctor should be completing the draw, not a phlebotomist. Areas of the body that look infected, scarred, or burned must also be avoided.
Can blood be drawn from leg vein?
Blood is most commonly obtained from the superficial veins of the upper limb. The median cubital vein, which lies within the cubital fossa anterior to the elbow, is close to the surface of the skin without many large nerves positioned nearby.
Is it OK to draw blood from foot?
VENIPUNCTURE SITE SELECTION: Although the larger and fuller median cubital and cephalic veins of the arm are used most frequently, the basilic vein on the dorsum of the arm or dorsal hand veins are also acceptable for venipuncture. Foot veins are a last resort because of the higher probability of complications.
What places can you draw blood from?
The most appropriate site to draw blood is selected based on vessel accessibility, patient age, and health status. Usually, the antecubital area, where the elbow bends, is used to access the median cubital vein.
What happens if you draw blood from an artery instead of a vein?
Arterial injection occurs when the individual hits an artery, not a vein. Hitting an artery can be painful and dangerous. Arterial blood travels away from the heart so whatever is injected goes straight to body limbs and extremities. Injection particles get stuck in blood capillaries and cut off circulation.
Can you draw blood from ankle?
arm vein. Veins in the foot and ankle should be utilized only as a last resort. also be avoided.
Why is order of draw important?
The order of draw is recommended for both glass and plastic venous collections tubes when drawing multiple specimens for medical laboratory testing during a single venipuncture. The purpose is to avoid possible test result error due to additive carryover. All additive tubes should be filled to their stated volumes.
What to do if you hit an artery during venipuncture?
What to do if you hit an artery: Untie your tourniquet and pull your needle out immediately. Raise the limb above your head to stop the bleeding, if possible. Apply firm pressure to the wound for at least 10 minutes.
Which type of phlebotomy involves collecting blood from veins?
Venipuncture is the process of collecting or “draw- ing” blood from a vein and the most common way to collect blood specimens for laboratory testing.
Why is blood drawn from a vein?
Veins are favored over arteries because they have thinner walls, and thus they are easier to pierce. There is also lower blood pressure in veins so that bleeding can be stopped more quickly and easily than with arterial puncture.
Can you draw blood from forearm?
Other Commonly Used Veins This vein can be found along the upper arm to the thumb, but it is commonly drawn from the forearm or antecubital fossa area. Also found in the antecubital fossa, the basilic vein serves as a last resort for blood draws.
Can you draw blood without a vein?
If the medical staff does not see a vein that will work for a blood draw, they may take blood from another location. Depending on the protocols of the lab, clinic, or doctor’s office, they may be able to do a blood draw from the top of the hands, wrists, and other areas on the arms.
Which vein should not be used for venipuncture?
The cephalic and basilic veins have a greater tendency to roll and veinpuncture may be more painful from these sites. Sometimes venipuncture is performed on hand veins when the veins in the antecubital fossa are not appropriate.
Can you draw blood from a hand?
Hand position: When collecting blood from a hand vein, it is best practice to position the patient’s hand slightly downward with the top of the hand facing you. The fingers of the patient’s hand should be rolled underneath, forming a loose fist.
Is it OK to draw blood from an artery?
Puncture of an artery may be more uncomfortable than puncture of a vein. This is because arteries are deeper than veins. Arteries also have thicker walls and have more nerves. When the needle is inserted, there may be some discomfort or pain.
How will you know if you have taken blood from an artery?
Collecting blood from an artery typically hurts more than drawing it from a vein. Arteries are deeper than veins, and there are sensitive nerves nearby. You also may feel lightheaded, faint, dizzy, or nauseated while your blood is drawn.
Can you draw blood from the femoral artery?
The Femoral venous blood draw (FVBD) is the procedure of performing a needle stick into the femoral vein for the purpose of drawing blood work that will assist in lab monitoring.
Can you draw blood from a paralyzed arm?
If an arm is paralyzed, the venous pump is lost, dramatically increasing the risk of vein thrombosis. No matter how good your technique, you disrupt the vein’s tunica intima and traumatize the vein every time you perform venipuncture.
What order should blood tubes be drawn?
The order of draw is based on CLSI Procedures and Devices for the Collection of Capillary Blood Specimens; Approved Standard – Sixth Edition, September 2008. This standard recommends that EDTA tubes be drawn first to ensure good quality specimen, followed by other additive tubes and finally, serum specimen tubes.
How do you transfer blood from syringe to tube?
Attach the syringe to a blood transfer device by twisting the needle tip into the hub of the device. Push a vacuum blood collection tube into the holder of the transfer device, and let the tube fill to the appropriate level.
Why do you draw a blue top first?
This is all done at bedside at time of draw. draws – see below) to help prevent tissue fluid contamination first draw a small amount of blood into a waste tube (plain/no additive tube – white or red top) before drawing blue top tube. Allow vacuum to fill tube until blood stops flowing.
How can you tell an artery from a vein?
Blood moves more quickly through your arteries. Your arteries are thicker and stretchier to be able to handle the higher pressure of blood moving through them. Your veins are thinner and less stretchy. This structure helps veins move higher amounts of blood over a longer time than arteries.
Do you give blood from a vein or an artery?
For direct transfusions a vein can be used but the blood may be taken from an artery instead. In this case, the blood is not stored, but is pumped directly from the donor into the recipient.
What is a collapsed vein look like?
What do collapsed veins look like? You can’t determine if a vein has collapsed just by looking at your skin. The collapse happens underneath the skin, inside the vein. A vein that has collapsed has no blood going through it, and sometimes the vein itself disappears into the skin, blending into the surrounding area.
