Vacuum Blood Collection Tube

Vacuum Blood Collection Tubes are used to transport and process blood for testing serum, plasma or whole blood in the clinical laboratory.

Blood Collection Procedure

Patient Identification: Ensure accurate patient identification by using two distinct identifiers, such as the patient's full name and date of birth. This crucial step minimizes the risk of sample misidentification and subsequent errors in laboratory results.

Skin Preparation: Thoroughly clean the puncture site with an appropriate antiseptic solution, such as 70% isopropyl alcohol. This helps to reduce the microbial load at the injection site and significantly decreases the likelihood of post - collection infection.

Venipuncture: Perform venipuncture by inserting a sterile needle into a suitable vein, typically in the antecubital fossa. Skillfully draw the required volume of blood, taking care to maintain a steady and controlled collection process.

Filling the Tubes: Fill the designated blood collection tubes in the correct order, as specified by laboratory protocols. This sequential filling is essential to prevent cross - contamination between samples and ensure that the blood - to - additive ratios are accurate for each test, which is critical for reliable laboratory analysis.

Mixing: After filling each tube, gently invert it 5 - 8 times to ensure thorough mixing of the blood with the anticoagulant or preservative present in the tube. This step is necessary to prevent clotting and preserve the integrity of the sample for accurate testing.

Labeling: Immediately and accurately label each tube with the patient's identifying information, including name, date of birth, medical record number, collection date and time, and the specific test requests. Clear and precise labeling is vital for maintaining sample traceability throughout the testing process and ensuring that the results are correctly associated with the intended patient.