1. Blood Specimen Collection
Chapter 43
Blood Specimen Collection

2. Capillary Puncture Skin puncture or finger puncture
Obtain blood from just under the surface of the skin
Ideal for tests requiring only a small amount of blood

3. Sites for Capillary Puncture
Ring finger
Great finger
Lateral sides of the heel on infants

4. Performing the Capillary Puncture
Sterile lancet device is used
Make skin puncture across the fingerprints, not parallel to them

5. Venipuncture
Surgical puncture of a vein, also called phlebotomy

6. Site Selection Sites for venipuncture Swab area with alcohol
Most common: the inner arm at the bend of the elbow
Back of the palm (for difficult draw)
Swab area with alcohol

7. Applying the Tourniquet
Tourniquets promote palpation and sometimes visual position of the veins
Apply three inches above the intended venipuncture site
Do not leave on patient longer than 1 minute

8. Preparing the Patient
Explain the procedure and answer any patient questions
Patient instructions
Explain that there will be minimal pain and/or discomfort, which usually subsides quickly
Relaxing will help speed up the procedure

9. Venipuncture Methods Vacuum tube and sterile needle
Most popular method of collection
21-23 gauge needle is generally used
Blood specimen enter directly into test tubes

10. Venipuncture Methods Sterile needle and syringe
Used when patient has small veins
Usually a mL syringe is used

11. Venipuncture Methods Butterfly Used for difficult draws
A smaller gauge needle is used
The tourniquet is applied just above the wrist

12. Collection Tubes Red-stoppered tubes Red/black stoppered tubes
Range from 3 to 15 mL
Used for whole blood collection and allowed to clot
After clotting, blood is spun and serum poured off
Red/black stoppered tubes
SST separates red cells from serum

13. Collection Tubes Lavender-stoppered tubes Gray-stoppered tubes
Contain EDTA
Range from 5 to 10 mL
Used in whole blood collection
Gray-stoppered tubes
Contains oxylate
Usually 5 mL
Used in blood glucose test

14. Collection Tubes Blue-stoppered tubes Green-stoppered tubes
Usually 5 mL
Used for testing prothrombin times
Must be completely full
Green-stoppered tubes
Contains heparin
Used to determine several chemical constituents

15. Order of Draw
Yellow
Blue
Red/ Red Black
Green
Lavender
Gray

16. Documentation for Specimen Collection
Lab request form must be completed, sent with specimens, and listed in log book
Date collected
Patient’s full name, DOB, or records number
Date sent to lab
Test(s) requested
Date results received
Test results