PHLEB: Blood Collection Precautions

Question 1

7 FINGER PUNCTURE PRECAUTIONS

Answer 1

1. Do not puncture the fingers of patients under 1 year of age.
2. Do not puncture fingers on the same side as mastectomy without consulting with the patient’s physician.
3. Do not puncture parallel to the grooves
4. Do not puncture the pinky finger.
5. Do not puncture the index finger
6. Do not puncture the side or tip of the finger
7. Do not puncture the thumb.

Question 2

6 Specimen Quality Concerns

Answer 2

1. Clotting
2. Hemolysis
3. Insufficient Sample (QNS)
4. Word or Expired Collection Tube
5. Improper Transport and Storage
6. Specimen Contamination

Question 3

Causes for specimen contamination

Answer 3

a) Allowing alcohol, fingerprints, glove powder, baby powder, or urine from wet diapers to contaminate NBS forms or specimens

b) Getting glove powder on blood films (slides) or in capillary specimens

c) Unwittingly dripping perspiration into capillary specimens during collection

d) Using the correct antiseptic but not following the proper procedure

e) Using the wrong antiseptic to clean the site prior to specimen collection

Question 4

3 Reasons for Hemolysis

Answer 4

1. Using very small needles during blood collection
2. Inserting needle even though alcohol is still not dry
3. Pulling back too hard on the plunger

Question 5

3 Reasons for clotting

Answer 5

1. Failure to invert sample after collection
2. Vigorous mixing of sample
3. Traumatic venipuncture (probing)

Question 6

Complications Encountered in Blood Collection