Specimen Collection Phlebotomy Procedures Not Performing a Draw

The hospital staff assigned to blood drawing are instructed NOT to draw blood samples from the following:

1. Patient not properly identified with MHMH ID wrist band.
2. Patient who indicates refusal to have blood drawn.
3. Patient who is being transfused with blood products. Venipuncture may be performed 15-30 minutes after transfusion is completed.
4. Above an IV site. The hospital staff will draw below an IV if a site is available.
5. Arterial puncture site or femoral puncture site.
6. Foot or leg veins.
7. The arm of a patient with a cannula, fistula or vascular graft.
8. The arm on the same side as mastectomy surgery. However, it may be possible to draw from the mastectomy arm if the arm on the non-mastectomy side is not suitable for drawing. The patient's nurse should confirm that an order has been written in the patient's chart stating blood may be drawn from the same side as the mastectomy. It may be necessary for the nurse to contact the patient's physician to have this order written in the patient's chart.