is this a correct way?

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Apr 9, 2009

Do you mean dripping from the end of an IV cath? I often do this when starting IV's on infants. The blood is collected in the pediatric "mini" tubes we also use for finger sticks. This isn't the ideal way, in that the sample is very small, but sometimes you have to take what you can get :). I've never had a problem from the lab and have never had anyone tell me not to do it this way.

Hope this answers your question.

beautifull heart · Apr 9, 2009

thanks RN-cardiac...

i ment collectiong blood samples for adult patients once we started for them the iv insertion., because in ER whrere am working most of us collecting blood by this way till our cn comes and prohipited this way and asked us to collected by vaccutainer:uhoh3:

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Apr 9, 2009

I work ER also, and we almost always draw labs when we start a line, but we use the vacutainers unless it's and infant. I'm curious, are you using the tiny pedi tubes for adult specimens? I'm trying to think about this and see it in my head,....my lines are usually at least an 18g and they don't "drip"! I would have a mess if I tried to get blood from an 18g into that little tube! Besides IMHO the vacutainers are way faster!