Collection of Blood Specimen
Collection of Blood Specimen
1 05/09/2025
Objectives
Upon completion of this content, the student will be able to:
Identify the tests that are done on capillary blood
Indicate the anatomical sites of capillary blood collection
Perform the procedure of capillary blood collection by skin puncture
Distinguish the laboratory tests for which venous blood is required
Indicate the anatomical sites of venous blood collection
Perform venous blood collection
List the advantages and disadvantages of capillary and venous
blood sample
Explain the difference between capillary and venous blood
Recognize complications of venous blood sample collection
Describe arterial blood collection
Exercise ethical handling of patients
Adhere to the safety precautions that should be taken in blood
collection
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Collection of blood specimen
Proper collection and reliable processing of blood specimens
precautions to ensure:
Test results are reliable
potentially infectious
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Collection of blood specimen cont’d…
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Collection of blood specimen
cont’d…
Care must be taken when handling syringes and
needles
Do not recap used needles by hand
Needle-stick injuries are the most commonly encountered
accidents
If a needle-stick injury occur:
Immediately remove gloves
Vigorously squeeze the wound while flushing the
bleeding with running tap water
Thoroughly scrub the wound with cotton balls soaked in
0.1% hypochlorite solution
Report to supervisor immediately
Adhere to national guideline on HIV exposure risk
5 regarding post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) 05/09/2025
Collection of blood specimen
cont’d…
(Q) Difference between specimen and sample?
Capillary blood
Venous blood
Arterial blood
way needle)
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Venous Blood Collection/Venipuncture
Venous Blood Collection/Venipuncture
preferred sites
They are larger than those in the wrist or ankle regions
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Venous Blood Collection Cont’d…
The three main veins in the
forearm
Medial Cubital
First choice well anchored
and easy to penetrate
Cephalic
On the outside surface
Well anchored
Basilic
Not well anchored, tends
to roll, painful and can
cause nerve damage
Anterior surface of the left arm
showing veins most suitable for
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venipuncture
Venous Blood Collection Cont’d…
interpersonal skill
Require experience
Vacutainer tube
holder
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Tourniquet 05/09/2025
Venous Blood Collection Cont’d…
Vacutainer technique of venous blood
collection
1. Assemble the necessary materials and equipment
3. Identify the right patient and allow the patient to sit
comfortably preferably in an armchair
4. Reassure the patient
5. Apply the tourniquet
Position the tourniquet 7.5 – 10 cm above the venipuncture
site with strip equal on both sides
6. Prepare the arm by swabbing the antecubital fossa with
a gauze pad or cotton moistened with 70% alcohol
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Venous Blood Collection Cont’d…
alcohol
Clean area in concentric circles
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Venous Blood Collection Cont’d…
7. Grasp the back of the patient’s arm at the elbow and anchor
the selected vein by drawing the skin slightly taut over the
vein
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Venous Blood Collection Cont’d…
14. Remove the tube from the vacutainer holder and if the
15. Label the tubes with patient’s name, hospital number and
stopped
1 2
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Venous Blood Collection Cont’d…
Syringe & needle method of venipuncture
Syringe method a needle is attached to a syringe
and inserted into the vein
The plunger of the needle is drown back to creates
suction pressure to draw the blood in to the needle
1. Remove the syringe from its protective wrapper and
the needle from the cap
2. Assemble them allowing the cap to remain covering
the needle until use
3. Attach the needle so that the bevel faces in the
same direction as the graduation mark on the
syringe
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Venous Blood Collection Cont’d…
4. Check to make sure:
The needle is sharp
The syringe moves smoothly
There is no air left in the barrel
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Venous Blood Collection Cont’d…
collection/dermal puncture
Is collecting blood after an incision is made to the skin with a lancet
like:
For hemoglobin quantitation
In infants
problem
In patient whose arm veins are being used for intravenous
medication
Sites of Puncture
Finger Prick
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Capillary Blood Collection cont’d…
Considerations during capillary blood collection:
punctured
Cold sites should not be punctured as samples collected from
cold sites give falsely high results of hemoglobin and cell counts
Site should be massaged until it is warm
Materials required
Technique:
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some distance above the puncture site is allowable 05/09/2025
Capillary Blood Collection cont’d…
gases (ABGs)
Its is critical for the diagnosis and management of
respiratory diseases
Assessment of oxygenation problems in
o Pneumonia/pneumonitis
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o Pulmonary embolism etc. 05/09/2025
Arterial blood collection cont’d…
Arterial blood is not used for routine tests
because
Technically difficult and more invasive
o Delay in transport
Use syringe, needle and test tubes that are dry and free from
detergent
Use smooth and good quality sharp needles
Do not eject the blood from the syringe through the needle
Transfer the blood from the syringe by gently ejecting down the
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Inpatient or Ward Identification
temporary band on
Always make sure all information matches
Young children:
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Unconscious Patient & Handling Difficult Clients
Unconscious Patient
Identify yourself and inform the patient of your intent
Ask caregiver to identify the patient
Compare this information to the identification bracelet
Continue to speak to the patient
Ask for help in holding the patient because they can
sense pain but can not control their reactions
Handling Difficult Clients
Remain calm and professional
Treat the client in a caring manner under any
circumstances
Never force a client to do anything that they do not want
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to do 05/09/2025
Test Request Form
to be drawn
Types of tests
Physician name
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Explain the Procedure
Some clients may have had their blood drawn for testing
State to the client “I’m going to draw some blood from you
today.”
Serves two purposes:
Client aware of what is to happen
Gives you consent to proceed
Client Inquiry About Tests
Most often asked question is “What are these tests
for?”
If you do not feel comfortable about the question, refer
them to their doctor
If the tests are routine and non threatening you can
explain “ a kidney function test”
All test results are given to the doctor
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Needle Disposal
the draw
Dispose needle in a Biohazard SHARPS
container
Needle and holder are disposed of
together
Do Not Re-Use Needles or holders
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Specimen Labeling
Proper and accurate labeling is one of the
most important aspects of Specimen
collection.
Label all tubes after blood is in them
Labeling is immediately after collection
Should contain:
Client’s full name
ID number
Time of collection
Date
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Phlebotomist initials 05/09/2025
Failure to Obtain Blood
Remain calm
Check:
Needle Position
Reposition
Tube position
Lift up or down
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Needle Position
Needle not deep enough
Slightly push the needle back in
Correct angle
Try to feel for the vein above or below the site of the needle
specimen
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Collapsed Vein
Sometimes the vacuum in the
Mastectomy:
Hematoma:
Should be avoided
Obesity:
Damaged veins:
Petechiae:
Red spots under the skin which appear when a tourniquet
is left on.
Usually there is capillary fragility
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Collection Techniques Affecting the Specimen
Partially filled tubes:
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Safety Reminders
Always use standard or universal blood precautions
armband
Do not allow tourniquet to remain on the arm for
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