Blood draws CVC

[Mere_RN]

Can you use a vacutainer when drawing blood from central lines? Picc, port, groshong,IJ, etc

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

At my hospital we do not use vacutainers, per policy, we only use 10 mL syringes and we then use the vacutainer adapter that has the luer lock to screw into the syringe and suck the blood into the tubes .

Annie

[bugya90, ASN, BSN, LVN, RN]

We only use syringes. I would worry the vacutainer would have too much pressure.

[Wuzzie]

We may use vacutainers on non-valved lines only. Our PICCs are valved so syringe only. Ports and apheresis catheters are vacutainer appropriate.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

Yes...you absolutely can.This does no damage the cells or the device.The negative pressure can cause catheter collapse so if you have a larger lumen size.(ie.as in a trilpe lumen PICC) use that one.A vacutainer actually provides a consistent amount of negative pressure as opposed to a syringe which does vary because of the strength,size and technique of the hand used.You should verify patency with a check for brisk blood return and a flush then you attach vacutainer and do the discard into a plain large red top for your discard....then whatever else you need in the correct tube order .I do it this way all the time and rarely do I have any problems.If I do I switch back to syringe method.