- Select the vein site:
For most venipuncture in adults, veins located in the arm are used. The median cubital vein is the one used for the patient
- Factors in site selection
(i) healed burn areas should ne avoided
(ii) Hematoma
- Applying the tourniquet
- A tourniquet makes the vein more prominent. But tourniquet should never be left on arm for more than two minutes.
Performing venipuncture
The patient's arm is gripped tightly and thumb of another hand is used to draw skin taut.
The venipuncture by placing needle at 30° to 40° angle)
Draw the blood very carefully
After blood has been drawn, the patient should release the fist and the tourniquet is also released
Apply cotton without spirit on punctured area.
*After removing the needle the collected blood dispense in the vials
- red vial: for biochemistry and microbiological test
- violet (EDTA ) for hematological test
- gray (fluoride oxalate) for blood glucose
In anticoagulated vials blood should be mix properly
* After venipuncture the needle should be removed from the syringe and disposed by using needle destroyer * Dispose used cotton balls, in yellow box (box for infected material)
