topic 1

• Blood Drawing Station


  • Dedicated area of a medical laboratory for performing phlebotomy procedures on outpatients
• Phlebotomy Chair


  • Comfortable chair with armrests to support the arm and prevent falls
• Phlebotomy Kit


  • Make blood collection equipment portable
  • Important in hospital setting and other instances in which the patient cannot come to the laboratory
• Gloves


  • OSHA requires the wearing of gloves during phlebotomy
  • A new pair must be used for each patient (1:1)
  • Even when permitted by the healthcare facility, latex gloves should not be used when a patient has latex allergies
• Sharps Container


  • Rigid, leakproof, puncture resistant, and clearly marked with the biohazard symbol
  • Usually red and available in a variety of shapes and sizes
  • Marked with a biohazard label and to be disposed of according to the biohazard guidelines established by OSHA
• Disinfectant


  • Removes or kills microorganisms on surfaces and instruments
  • 10% sodium hypochlorite: best
• Antiseptic


  • Prevents microorganisms and their toxins from infecting the blood
  • 70% isopropyl alcohol: most common and best
• Hand sanitizer


  • Alcohol-based rinses, gels and foams
  • Can replace handwashing if hands are not visibly soiled
• Glass slides


  • Precleaned 25x75mm glass microscope slide are used to make blood film for hematology determination
• Pen/permanent markers


  • Label tubes and record other patient information
• Watch/timer


  • Accurately determine specimen collection times and time certain tests
• Plaster/cotton


  • To stop bleeding after puncture
• Tissue/heel warmer


  • Increase blood flow to the intended puncture site
  • Common in dermal puncture/ capillary puncture
• Transport bag


  • To transport blood from the collection location to the testing location
• Evacuated tubes


  • Use both in syringe and ets
  • Contains a vacuum with a rubber stopper sealing the tube
  • Volumes vary from 2ml-15ml
  • Contains additives to improve sample quality and accelerate sample processing
• Tourniquet


  • Constricts the flow of blood in the arm and makes the veins more prominent
  • Usually 1 inch wide, 15-18 inches long
  • Applied 3-4 inches above the site, not more than 1 minute
• Syringe Method Equipment


  • An open system used for patents with small or difficult veins
  • One of the oldest methods known that does not destroy the integrity of the vein
  • Angle: 15-30 degrees
• Syringes


  • Come in sterile pull-apart packages
  • Available in various sizes or volumes
  • Common volumes: 2, 5, 10, 20 ml
  • Parts: barrel and plunger
  • A technique called breathing the syringe needs to be done before it is used
• Needles


  • Parts: Hub, Shaft, Bevel
  • Hub: attached to a syringe (screw the hub)
  • Recommended length of a needle: 1-1/12 inch
  • Needle gauge is the diameter of the lumen or opening of the needle
  • Needle gauge is inversely proportional to the needle bore
  • The bevel must always be facing upward, the opening of the needle should be visible
• Evacuated tube system


  • Closed system: prevents exposure to air from outside contaminants
  • Preferred method of blood collection
  • Allows multiple tubes to be collected in a single venipuncture
• Two-way Needle/Multisample Needle


  • Double pointed needle
  • The needle is a straight hollow type with double points and a screw hub near the center
• Adapter/Tube Holder


  • Where the phlebotomist holds
  • Clear plastic disposable cylinder with a small threaded opening at one end where the needle is screwed into it, and a large opening at the other end where the collection tube is placed
• Butterfly Collection System/Winged Infusion Set

  • Used for small and fragile veins that are difficult to draw from
  • 21 or 23 gauge needle with attached plastic wings on one end
  • 3-12 inches tubing leads from the needle
  • Inserted at a 5 degree angle instead of the usual 15-30