Traumatic Draw

This version of the course is no longer available.
Need multiple seats for your university or lab? Get a quote
The page below is a sample from the LabCE course . Access the complete course and earn ASCLS P.A.C.E.-approved continuing education credits by subscribing online.

Learn more about (online CE course)
Traumatic Draw

Phlebotomists are trained to avoid or minimize the practice of "fishing" for the vein if the initial attempt to insert the collection needle into the vein is unsuccessful. In addition to this "fishing" process being painful to the patient, it could cause tissue and vascular damage at and around the phlebotomy site. Further, the underlying damaged tissues release chemicals called cytokines, which, along with blood that may pool in the surrounding tissue, may be drawn into the vacuum of the collection tube, resulting in a fluid that is not truly representative of the circulating blood. Such mixtures of vascular blood and tissue fluids are also more likely to be hemolyzed.