Vacutainers and PICC lines

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Does anyone use the needless vacutainers to draw labs off a PICC line? I am curious to see how many use the vacutainer vs. 10cc syringes. I personally use the vacutainer but I have heard that it collapses the lines. I sometimes use the syringe method but I have had issues with the blood hemolyzing. So what do you use?

Specializes in Med/Surg.

We use 10cc syringes only, per policy. It's not worth risking damaging the line. If it's done fast enough, there isn't a risk of hemolyzing the sample...just get it in to the lab tube as soon as possible (which can be done just by popping the top off).

mamamerlee, LPN

949 Posts

Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Vacutainer whenever possible - safer.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

best to follow manufacturer's directions. Could be you are putting patient at risk for getting new line if this one fails due to improper care/maintenance.

I believe we use the vacutainers for art lines, but 10 cc syringes for piccs.

mamamerlee, LPN

949 Posts

Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

I googled 'picc lines and blood draws' Got many good hits. This one has the most info : www.iv-therapy.net/node/400 Try it.

TransplantRN3

75 Posts

We use 10cc syringes with the double stopcock technique.

Katie91

79 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surg, ID, Oncology, Ortho.

10ML syringes only. You can control the negative pressure easier without risk of collapsing the line ;)

mcpkin

26 Posts

WE have vacutainers that screw on to the ten cc syringe. Then I just fill the tubes that way. We have blue color ones for infusaports and red ones for the luer lock 10 cc syringe for picc lines. Works well for me.

fakemusician

42 Posts

i've actually never used vacutainer straight on picc, we've always used the 100cc syringe method....... i would stick to it as much as possible since one of my co-worker blew one picc line in one day, then come back the next day and blew a second picc on the same patient. i don't think she ever got in official trouble but everyone talks about it now

Daytonite, BSN, RN

1 Article; 14,603 Posts

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

I have an Arrow PICC and those who use it to draw my blood used both methods and have never had a problem with the blood hemolyzing.

PAERRN20

660 Posts

Specializes in ER.

Thanks for all the replies. I see we have some who use the syringe method and some who use the vacutainer method! Just as I thought!

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