Tips for blood collection

Pre-collection

Collection method

• Use of straight needles is preferred, but a butterfly wingset may be used in difficult-to-bleed patients
• Note that the collection of blood specimens through IV cannuale is associated with increased rates of haemolysis

Patient identification

• Obtain minimum patient ID - name and date of birth - using open questions
• Check details against printed EPR barcode labels

Collection

Infection control

• Use Aseptic Non-Touch Technique
  
• Single use tourniquet and blood collection tube holder

Collection tubes

• Observing the correct order of draw will help prevent effects of contamination
• Mix by gentle inversion once after each tube, then together at the end of the procedure
• Refer to tube guide on the intranet

Collection technique

• Use the correct fill volume - this is vital for citrate tube. Collect a discard tube if filling a citrate tube first when using a butterfly. This allows for the air space in the butterfly tubing to be filled with blood rather than being transferred to the tube
• Do not leave the tourniquet on for an excessive length of time, as this can cause patient discomfort and compromise sample quality

Post-collection

Safety

• Use in-vein activation of the butterfly safety device
  
• Cover needle
  
• Dispose of sharps in an appropriate sharps bin

Labelling

• Blood tubes must be labelled at the patient's side, immediately following venepuncture. Do not leave the patient's side to label the tubes
• Tubes must be labelled with barcodes in the correct position/orientation - the barcode must be closest to the cap