Specimen Collection Phlebotomy Procedures Special Circumstances

Specimens which are to be used for blood cultures should be collected from a sterile environment. The following precautions should be taken during a routine venipuncture.

1. The caps of the blood culture bottles should be disinfected with Povidone-Iodine solution and allowed to dry at least 1-2 minutes.
2. Disinfect the venipuncture site by moving in an outward spiral from the zone of expected entry. Allow to dry 1-2 minutes and avoid touching the area.
3. Collect blood culture specimens before collecting any other specimens from the puncture site.
4. Refer to the "Special Considerations" for a more in-depth explanation on drawing of blood culture specimens.

Timed Specimens

Occasionally there may be tests that need to be drawn in a timed sequence or timely manner. Some examples of these tests may be Glucose (tolerance and post prandial), troughs and peaks of certain drugs, tests for Coagulation therapy, and Cardiac enzymes. One may refer to the Laboratory Handbook for a more exact explanation of timing procedures, as listed under the "Commonly Ordered Tests" section.

Venipuncture on Children

• Never tell a child that it will not hurt, instead, tell the child that you will try to make it as painless as possible. Reassure the child that the procedure will not take long. If possible, promise the child a reward, such as a bright sticker, for good behavior.
• Whenever possible, children should be drawn in the outpatient pediatric room or in the "treatment" room provided on the floor.
• Venipuncture performed on children under 2 years should be done using either a syringe with a 21 to 27 gauge needle or a 21 to 27 gauge butterfly needle with tubing attached to the plastic tube holder.
• One may refer to the pediatric "Special Considerations" section for further explanation of how to handle pediatric situations.