Phelbotomy Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is the first step in the blood drawing procedure?
Perform hand hygiene and put on gloves
Hand hygiene can be done by washing hands with soap and water or using alcohol rub.
What should you do if blood spillage occurs?
Put on gloves and a gown or apron, mop up liquid with paper towels, and remove blood with wet cloths before disinfecting
Ensure to place used paper towels into infectious waste.
What is the preferred vein for venepuncture?
The median cubital vein
It is usually the easiest vein to puncture.
Where should the tourniquet be applied?
About 4–5 finger widths above the venepuncture site.
What should you check before proceeding with the blood draw?
Confirm the patient’s identity and check for allergies or previous experiences with blood draws.
What equipment is necessary for drawing blood?
An assortment of blood-sampling devices, tourniquet, alcohol hand rub, and laboratory sample tubes
Additional items include gloves and a sterile glass or bleeding pack.
What is the purpose of disinfecting the entry site?
To reduce the risk of contamination before venepuncture.
What is the correct angle for entering the vein during venepuncture?
30 degrees or less.
What should be done after sufficient blood has been collected?
Release the tourniquet before withdrawing the needle.
How should laboratory samples be transported?
Pack samples in a plastic leak-proof bag with a separate compartment for the laboratory request form.
What is the recommended method for cleaning the entry site?
Use a 70% alcohol swab for 30 seconds and allow it to dry completely.
What should be done with used needles and syringes?
Discard them into a puncture-resistant sharps container.
What factors contribute to best practices in phlebotomy?
Planning ahead, quality control, appropriate supplies, and training
Includes post-exposure prophylaxis availability.
What type of blood sampling requires specialist training?
Arterial blood gases and neonatal/paediatric blood sampling.
Fill in the blank: The term ‘phlebotomy’ covers blood sampling for purposes of laboratory tests and _______.
blood collection for donation.
What are the major issues that can arise from errors in blood collection?
Haemolysis, contamination, and inaccurate labelling.
True or False: Alcohol is preferable to povidone iodine for skin disinfection prior to blood collection.
True.
What should be done to avoid cross-contamination of additives between blood collection tubes?
Draw blood collection tubes in the correct order.
What factors increase the risk of haemolysis during blood collection?
- Use of a needle of too small or too large a gauge
- Pressing the syringe plunger too forcefully
- Drawing from an intravenous line
- Under filling a tube
- Mixing a tube too vigorously
- Failing to let alcohol dry.
What should you do after completing the blood draw?
Perform hand hygiene and inform the patient that the procedure is over.
