Phlebotomy Flashcards
What equipment do you need for venepuncture?
Clean procedure tray Non-sterile gloves Tourniquet Blood sampling device (e.g. butterfly needle and barrel): the size should be appropriate to the vein and sample requirements. Blood specimen bottles Sharps container Alcohol swab (2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl) Gauze or cotton wool Sterile plaster
How would you explain venipuncture to a patient?
“Today I need to take a blood sample, which involves inserting a small needle into your vein. You may briefly experience a sharp scratch as the needle is inserted.”
What area is often used for venepuncture?
The median cubital vein in the antecubital fossa is commonly used for venepuncture.
How do you know whether to inverse the blood sample bottles?
Light blue: 3-4 inversions Gold/yellow: 5-6 inversions Purple: 8-10 inversions Pink: 8-10 inversions Grey: 8-10 inversions
What are the colours for the specific blood tests?
Blood culture: these bottles should always be attached first, with the aerobic sample preceding the anaerobic one.
Light blue: coagulation screen, INR and D-dimer.*
Gold/yellow: U&Es, CRP, LFTs, amylase, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, TFTs, lipid profile and troponins.
Purple: FBC, blood film, ESR and HbA1c.
Pink: group and save allowing for crossmatching.
Grey: glucose and lactate.
