Principles of Medical Laboratory

Science
 Objectives
• At the end of the lecture, the students will be
able to:
• Discuss the physiological variables that
influence laboratory test results;
• Identify the problem areas to avoid in site
selection;
• Identify causes of concern and the procedure to
follow when encountering each;
• Discuss and identify the various vascular access
sites and devices;
• Describe and explain how to handle patient
complications associated with blood collection
and how to avoid it;
• Identify and explain how to handle procedural
risks, quality concerns and reason for failure to
draw blood.
• Physiological variables
• Problems in venipuncture sites
• Types of vascular devises
• Complications and conditions
• Procedural errors
• Quality specimen issues
• Troubleshooting of failed venipuncture
 Reference Ranges/Intervals
• Normal Laboratory test values for healthy
individuals.
 Basal State
• The resting metabolic state of the body early
in the morning after fasting for a minimum of
12 hours.
 Physiological Variables
• Age, gender, diet, exercise

• Altitude, position, dehydration, temperature,

humidity

• Drug therapy, fever, jaundice, pregnancy,

intramuscular injection, smoking, stress.
 Physiological Variables
• Age
• Gender
• Diet
• Exercise
 Physiological Variables
• Altitude
• Position
• Dehydration
• Temperature
• Humidity
 Physiological Variables
• Drug therapy
• Fever
• Jaundice
• Pregnancy
• Intramuscular injection
• Smoking
• Stress.
 Problem Sites
• Burns, Scars, and Tattoos
• Damaged veins
• Edema
• Hematoma
• Mastectomy
• Obesity
Burns

Tattoos

Scars
Damaged veins
Edema
Hematoma
Mastectomy
Obesity
 Vascular Access Devices
• Arterial line
• Arteriovenous shunt, Fistula, or Graft
• Blood sampling device
• Heparin or Saline Lock
• Intravenous sites
• Previously active IV sites
• Central vascular Access Devices
Arterial Line
Arteriovenous shunt
Blood Sampling device
Intravenous sites
Central Vascular Access Device
Patient Complications and Conditions
• Allergies to equipment and supplies
e.g.: adhesives, antiseptic, latex
• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain
• Petechiae
• Seizures/Convulsion
 Procedural error risks
• Hematoma formation
• Iatrogenic anemia
• Inadvertent arterial puncture
• Infection
• Nerve injury
• Reflux of additive
• Vein damage
 Specimen Quality Concerns
• Hemoconcentration
• Hemolysis
• Partially filled tubes
• Specimen contamination
• Wrong or expired collection tube
 Trouble Shooting of Failed
venipuncture
• Tube position

• Needle position

• Tube vacuum
Tube Position
 CORRECTIONS ON SLIDE # 30
• B and C Blood will flow freely to the vein “ into
the needle”
• D Arterial vein “Inadvertent Arterial puncture”
• G demonstrate “imagine”
• F probe “redirect”
Tube vacuum
• Thank You..

• Be Safe..