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Learn more about the typical anatomy of the arm and hand when it comes to veins. For example, many people who perform blood draws will do so in the antecubital area of the arm (inner part of the forearm) where there are several large veins.
What part of the arm do you draw blood from?
For adult patients, the most common and first choice is the median cubital vein in the antecubital fossa. Commonly referred to as the antecubital or the AC it can be found in the crevice of the elbow between the median cephalic and the median basilic vein.
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 are the 3 main veins to draw blood?
3.05. The most site for venipuncture is the antecubital fossa located in the anterior elbow at the fold. This area houses three veins: the cephalic, median cubital, and basilic veins (Figure 1).
Is it OK to draw blood from the wrist?
Blood is usually drawn from an artery in the wrist. It may also be drawn from an artery on the inside of the elbow, groin, or other site. If blood is drawn from the wrist, the health care provider will usually first check the pulse.
Can they draw blood from your hand?
Only use the top of a hand for puncture. Veins on the palmar surface of the wrist, the fingers, and the lateral wrist above the thumb to the mid-forearm must not be used according to the 2017 CLSI standards. This will prevent the inadvertent puncture of hidden arteries, tendons, or nerves in the area.
Can you draw blood from upper arm?
To get blood drawn, you’ll sit in a chair or lie down. The person who takes the blood will ask you to make a fist with your hand. Then they’ll tie a band, called a tourniquet, around your upper arm. This makes your veins pop out a little more, which will make it easier to insert the needle in the right place.
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 sites should you avoid for venipuncture?
Do not use the tip of the finger or the center of the finger. Avoid the side of the finger where there is less soft tissue, where vessels and nerves are located, and where the bone is closer to the surface. The 2nd (index) finger tends to have thicker, callused skin.
What happens if you draw blood from an artery?
Collecting blood from an artery is more painful than collecting it from a vein. That’s because the arteries are deeper and are surrounded by nerves. You may feel light-headed, faint, dizzy, or nauseated while the blood is being taken from your artery.
Which vein is the first choice for venipuncture?
The antecubital area of the arm is usually the first choice for routine venipuncture. This area contains the three vessels primarily used by the phlebotomist to obtain venous blood specimens: the median cubital, the cephalic and the basilic veins.
What if you can’t find a vein?
Tips and Tricks for Accessing Problem Veins Get warm. When the body is warm, blood flow increases, dilating the veins and making them easier to find and stick. Use gravity. Increase blood flow to your arm and hand by letting gravity do the work. Hydrate. When the body is properly hydrated, veins become more dilated. Relax.
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 a blood test damage your arm?
Every time you have a blood test or an IV line in your arm, it damages the veins. Repeated blood tests cause progressive scarring to your veins. Some people, especially those with kidney disease or diabetes, need a lot of regular blood tests, and their veins can get damaged over time.
What happens if you hit 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.
Why does my arm hurt after getting my blood drawn?
This is completely normal and should not cause you any concern. Although bruising can be unsightly, it should resolve over the next few days without intervention. Very rarely, pain or discomfort in your arm, hand, or fingers can indicate inflammation of the arm, a tendon or nerve injury, or the puncture of an artery.
Can you draw blood from an arm with an IV?
Therefore, an arm containing an IV should not be used to draw blood specimens if it can be avoided. However, if there is no alternative and an arm with an IV line in place must be used for venipuncture, try to choose a site away from and below the location of the IV.
Can you get blood drawn two days in a row?
If your test results stay the same after a day or two, you may not need them again. More tests won’t tell your doctor anything new, unless you’re in intensive care or your treatment changes. Less testing doesn’t hurt you. There’s no harm in having fewer tests.
Is there an alternative to getting blood drawn?
There are now two excellent options for remote, self-drawn blood sampling. The first, dried blood spotting (DBS), is simply a fingerstick sample placed on a specially treated card that, once dried, is inserted into a protective envelope and mailed to the clinic or other destination without any special handling.
How do you draw blood without a needle?
The PIVO, a single-use, Class II device cleared by the FDA, draws blood through a peripheral IV line already inserted into the patient. Once attached to the IV catheter, a plunger is drawn back, pulling blood into a vacuum tube or syringe.
Why is tapping of the vein not recommended?
Light tapping of the vein may be useful but can be painful and may result in the formation of haematoma in patients with fragile veins (Dougherty, 1999). ‘Smacking’ the vessels may cause histamine release.
