Do I have to flush before withdrawing a blood from a PICC even a 0.9 Nacl + k running

[mspurple]

I did not practice nursing for almost 4 yrs, and just started working again as nurse 2 days ago :)) it's my first time to draw blood from a picc, just wondering, if there is an IV running through the PICC like 0.9% NaCl + K 40 mmol do I have to flush before withdraw a blood?

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

That should be based on assessment and the answer to that may also be based on the type of CVC you are dealing with. Generally if it is a valved catheter with the valves in the external tails such as a BARD SOLO I tend to flush before to verify patentcy especially if the lumen has been locked off. I do find that the valved catheters tend to draw a bit easier once I do a pre-flush. If you start to perform a discard and are having problems...stop..and flush so you can get a feel for the flush pressure..if it feels tight based upon the lumen size you have then there is a problem.