Venipuncture and Phlebotomy Lecture Notes

Phlebotomy Venipuncture and Phlebotomy •Terms refer to the collection of blood through a with a hollow needle. •Blood can also be collected through simple capi •Blood collection allows for blood to be analyzed •Many different techniques; variety of equipment Medical Assistant's Role proc •MA properlyThe collects, labels, and perhaps •MA requires basic knowledge of circulatory A& venipuncture procedures. MA must be professional and have the ability to staff •Understanding Circulatory Anatomy and Physi –Heart is a pump whose job it is to keep blood m –Arteries ●Have thick elastic walls ●Carry bright red blood ●Actively pulsate from pumping rhythm of hea –Capillaries act as bridges between arteries and –Veins are vessels that carry blood toward the h •Main elements of blood include: –Plasma (the liquid portion, which is mostly wa –Formed elements: ●Red cells (with hemoglobin; that transport oxy ●White cells (that protect against disease) ●Platelets (that are involved in clotting) •Main elements of blood include: –Blood serum: blood plasma from which fibrin Blood Specimen Collection •Strictly regulated by OSHA. •CDC's standard precautions must be followed at •Laboratories must adhere to CLIA standards. •Type and amount of specimen is dictated by test –Small volume—capillary puncture –Large volume—venipuncture •Capillary Puncture –Capillary blood used for many home monitoring POC tests –Capillaries: microscopic blood vessels that conn –Oxygen and carbon dioxide exchanged at the capillary level. –Small amounts of blood can easily be obtained –Not recommended for tests that require large vo –Not recommended for plasma studies, dehydrat –Most common capillary puncture sites for adult middle or ring finger) on nondominant hand, off –Earlobe is also common puncture site for adults –Avoid using the thumb; it is often callused. –Avoid index finger if possible; has extra nerve e –Avoid fifth finger; generally has less tissue. –Puncture should be a minimum of 2 mm away f –Avoid any area showing signs of injury or infec •Capillary puncture on infants –Puncture should occur on the medial and lateral –Patient can be held by parent or caretaker or ano –Baby's legs should hang to allow gravity to incr –Thoroughly clean and warm the heel before the –Gentle friction or a warm (never exceeding 42° can be applied for three to five minutes to increa –Never place an adhesive bandage on patients yo create a choking hazard. •Equipment and Supplies –Lancet ●Manual or automatic. ●With automatic lancet the depth of the puncture loaded mechanism, causing less pain to the patie ●Many are color-coded according to puncture de ●Place in a sharps container immediately after us –Capillary tubes are designed to gently pull the b –May have a blue mark (plain) or a red mark (wi –Microtainer capillary blood collection tubes hav coded caps. –Unopette collection devices can be used for var •Venipuncture –Safest and easiest sites to access are located on –Median cubital vein ●Located at the antecubital space, or the inner elb ●Most popular –Cephalic and basilic veins ●Next most commonly used; large and superficia Phlebotomist –MA who is trained to perform phlebotomy; may unless state regulations state otherwise. –Practice of phlebotomy also takes place in hosp clinics, and other settings. •Certification in Phlebotomy –Often required at hospitals, blood banks, and in –Benefits ●Prestige ●Increased job opportunities ●Higher salary ●Job security