Broviac catheter blood draw

IVRUS, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2008

Is it ever okay to reinfuse the discard from a blood draw?

It is NOT acceptable if you have disconnected the syringe from the catheter. However, with the mixing method of drawing blood from an IV catheter, your syringe is hooked up to the IV catheter and you pull back on the syringe getting your blood return, then you reinfuse it WITHOUT disconnecting, then pull back again, and then reinfuse again, then one more time.

Using this method, the blood never has a chance for coagulation or contamination and you do not waste any blood. After the third or 4th pull and reinfuse, you withdraw the appropriate amount for your specimen and then the line isd flushed with NSS and if needed, heparin flush.

nycajen · Apr 14, 2009

I totally agree, but can't find any research that supports this and the hospital where I am working does this routinely. Please, if anyone has found research regarding this, can you pass on the info to me? thanks!

PICC ACE · Apr 15, 2009

Not a lot of concrete published data. Here is the main reference I have for you:

Journal of Infusion Nursing

Volume 26(5), September/October 2003, pp 285-293

Drawing Blood Samples From Vascular Access Devices: Evidence-based Practice

Frey, Anne Marie RN, BSN, CRNI

The article is mainly a review of the literature with recommendations based on same. Recommends against the reinfusion method.

A reference specifically for your situation would be:

Cosca PA, Smith S, Chatfield S, et al. Reinfusion of discard blood from

venous access devices. Oncology Nursing Forum. 1998; 25( 6):73-76.

The article recommends against reinfusing the blood due to the chance of injecting clots.

Good luck.