3.1 Routine Venipuncture

Question 1

What is the evacuated tube system (ETS)?

Answer 1

The evacuated tube system (ETS) is the most commonly used equipment for venipuncture

Question 2

What does the acronym stand for

V / I / G / T T / N / H / B

Answer 2

Vinyl or nitrile gloves
Isopropyl alcohol swabs or pads
Gauze pads
Tape or bandages
Tourniquet
Needles
Hub, adapter, or needle holder
Blood collection tubes

Question 3

What do all needles have?

Answer 3

A point
A bevel
A Shaft

Question 4

Define needle gauge

Answer 4

Needle gauge describes the diameter

of a needles lumen.

Question 5

Define the relation between a needles gauge

and the diameter of its lumen.

Answer 5

The larger the gauge number the smaller

the diameter of the needles lumen.

Question 6

Describe a ETS needle

Answer 6

ETS needles are
double-sided with
a safety guard

Question 7

Identify when a butterfly device is used

Answer 7

A butterfly device is used when a
patient has small or difficult to access veins
Or when it’s the facility’s preference

Question 8

Describe a butterfly device

Answer 8

A butterfly device is a hollow,
3/4 inch long needle, that comes in gauges 21 - 23
With a short flexible plastic tube attached to another needle covered by a sheath

Question 9

Identify when the syringe method is used

Answer 9

The syringe method is used when a patient has fragile veins that easily collapse

Question 10

Define evacuated tube

Answer 10

Evacuated tubes are plastic or glass vacuum-sealed tubes that have colored stoppers and may contain different sets of additives

Question 11

Identify the most common additives in evacuated tubes

Answer 11

The most common additives in evacuated tubes are anticoagulants and clot activators

Question 12

Identify the additive contained within a serum tube

Answer 12

A serum tube contains clot activators and gel separators

Question 13

Identify the 7 anticoagulant tubes

Answer 13

B / L / G / L / G / R / L

Blood culture tube 
Light blue tube 
Green tube 
Lavender Tube 
Gray tube 
Royal Blue tube 
Light yellow tube

Question 14

Identify the yellow tube; it’s additive(s) and it’s use

Answer 14

The yellow tube is the blood culture tube
It contains (SPS) sodium polyanethole sulfonate
and it is used in bacterial studies

Question 15

Identify the light blue tubes additive(s) and it’s use

Answer 15

Light blue tubes contain sodium citrate and is used in coagulation blood test

Question 16

Identify the green tubes additive(s) and it’s use

Answer 16

The green tube contain sodium, lithium, or ammonia heparin and are used to test chemical levels

Question 17

Identify the lavender tubes additive(s) and it’s use

Answer 17

The lavender tube contains EDTA and is used for whole blood hematology

Question 18

Identify the gray tubes additive(s) and its use

Answer 18

The gray tube contains potassium oxalate/sodium fluoride and is used for glucose determinations

Question 19

Identify the royal blue tubes additive(s) and its use

Answer 19

The royal blue tube contains EDTA or clot activator and is used for trace element testing

Question 20

Identify light yellow tubes additive(s) and it’s use

Answer 20

The yellow tubes contain (ACD) acid citrate dextrose and is used for blood bank and DNA testing