BLOOD SPECIMEN

COLLECTION
BY : NORJANNAH OMAR NORDEN
PURPOSE:
• To help diagnose conditions such as electrolyte
imbalances.
• To screen for risk factors like cholesterol events and to
monitor the effects of treatment and medications.
• Universal precautions help reduce the risk of exposure of
the health care professional ‘s skin and /or mucus
membranes to infectious materials
•HEMOLYSIS :
The destruction of red blood cells, which leads
to the release of hemoglobin from within the red
blood cells into the blood plasma.
GUIDELINES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED WHEN
PREFORMING VENIPUNCTURES FOR BLOOD SPECIMEN
COLLECTION INCLUDES:
• Avoid drawing blood from an arm affected by stroke or neurological
injury that has resulted in loss of sensation.
• Avoid drawing blood from the arm on the affected side if a woman
has had a mastectomy ( Full or partial breast tissue removal ).
• Avoid areas with extensive scarring .Scar tissue is difficult to
puncture.
• Attempt to collect the blood specimen from the opposite arm if a
patient is receiving intravenous fluids , since fluid may dilute the
blood sample.
• Do not use a site that is swollen , Affected by certain
skin conditions like eczema or is infected.
• Use the right specimen tubes. Using the wrong tubes
will cause the specimen to be rejected by the
laboratory .
• Remove the tourniquet when the final tube of blood
to be drawn is filling.
• Send the specimen to the laboratory as soon as
possible.
HOW TO PREVENT HEMOLYSIS DURING SPECIMEN
COLLECTION :
1. Do not leave the tourniquet for longer than one minute.
2. Allow the venipuncture site to completely dry after cleaning it as
alcohol swab damages the cell wall.
3. Pull the plunger of the syringe gently.
4. Fill the tubes to correct volumes under filling of tubes containing
anticoagulant results in a higher than recommended concentration of
the additive which promotes hemolysis.
5. Avoid drawing from catheters and lines.
6. Pushing hard on the syringe plunger while transferring
blood to another tube.
7. Mix additives with the specimen gently, vigorous mixing or
shaking can break the cells.
ORDER OF THE TUBES WHEN FILLING BLOOD:
COLOR CODE DETERMINATION INVERSIONS

BLUE Aerobic followed by anaerobic 8 to 10 times

Purple ( BLOOD CULTURE )

Light blue ( sodium citrate ) For coagulation determination 3 to 4 times

on plasma specimens

Red ( Serum ) For serum determination in 5 to 6 times

chemistry

Gold SST For serum determination in 5 to 6 times

Advance chemistry with gel separator
 Color code Determination s Inversions
Green ( Heparin ) For plasma determinations 8 to 10 times
in chemistry
Lavender For whole blood 8 to 10
( EDTA ) hematology
determination
Procedures ???