Peripheral IV lab draws

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I'm a new graduate nurse working in Peds (specifically the PICU with float to regular peds). My preceptor today stated that we can draw lab's off of an existing IV site. I've never heard of this. Does anyone have any information about it (ie., the risks, or depends on what fluid is running)?

Also feel free to give you're experiences if you have any.

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I don't work in peds - but I have drawn from a peripheral IV before - HOWEVER, this can lead to hemolysis of your labs and lead to greater rates of infection - you should check your policy to see if the hospital allows this on your floor.

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That was the first place I checked and there is nothing on the issue. I tried doing some journal research also, with no results- maybe I'm phrasing things wrong though.

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Specializes in Peds Cardiology,Peds Neuro,Pedi ER,PICU, IV Jedi.
I'm a new graduate nurse working in Peds (specifically the PICU with float to regular peds). My preceptor today stated that we can draw lab's off of an existing IV site. I've never heard of this. Does anyone have any information about it (ie., the risks, or depends on what fluid is running)?

Also feel free to give you're experiences if you have any.

Yes, it is possible to draw labs off existing IVs, but the benefits have to outweigh the risks. If you've got, say, a 14 year old with great veins who's in stable condition (but just doesn't want to be "poked") and has a 22 gauge catheter - go ahead and try to get the labs out of that IV or HepLock.

If it's a heplock, draw off a 2-3 cc waste first - regardless of size of the patient.

If you've got a 2 month old, difficult access kid who just got stuck 4 times for the current IV, you'd do better to get the labs from a heelstick or butterfly.

When attempting to draw blood from a heplock or IV, it may help to occlude the site from above with a tourniquet. With larger bore IV catheters it's sometimes not as big a deal, but with the little one's it is.

Again, be sure you are aware that losing the IV is always a possibility when doing something like this. This is why I make sure to ask my residents if they want any blood while I'm starting the IV so that I don't potentially have to stick my kiddos twice.

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Specializes in SICU, EMS, Home Health, School Nursing.

We are allowed to draw blood off of peripheral IVs when we first start it, but we can't after we start IV fluids into it. We can draw off of central lines, a-lines and side ports of some of our lines. What you can do all depends on your hospitals policy.

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Specializes in ER.

You use a device called an angelwing, this screws onto the clave of your IV lock. This is a completely closed system no blood leaks out, and yes you can even use on an established lock, just flush site with 1-2 cc nss draw off a 5 cc waste and continue to draw into blood tubes. I totally beleive in sticking my patient as littel as possible. Yur lab at first claims hemolysis but after they see how it decreases their work load in having to come draw your patients it is surprising how infrequently hemolysis occurs. I work trauma level 1 and rural nursing and we use this in both.

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Specializes in ER.

Tyco Kendall company makes this device. It has a luer lock end, to screw onto your clave.

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I routinely draw off a PIV if it's a good patent line and they don't have central access. Often times people lose their lines by using too much force when aspirating. Take your time and aspirate slowly.

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Specializes in Spinal Cord injuries, Emergency+EMS.

taking blood from a peripheral line is do able - how often do we take the initial samples when we cannulate...

taking blood froman existing line is often frowned up but it is entirely possible if you understand the risks / potential problems ...

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Specializes in ER/SICU/Med-Surg/Ortho/Trauma/Flight.

Im a nursing supervisor in a level 1 trauma center and at a small community hospital also, I supervise

ER's and ICU's, I also work ortho and sometimes peds, Im mainly the house supervisor at nights at the small community hospital its 22 beds, my level 1 has over a 1000 beds, any way back on track. In er I draw off my IV's when I start them, occaisionally I will start a second small heplock (20-24 g.) just as a heplock to use just for this to draw from. Generally in Icu or ER theyll have a CVL or a PICC so it makes it easy or an art. line, alot of them have 16-18 g. IV's in er which are real easy to draw labs off of, also the smaller gauge the needle the faster it hemolysis.

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Specializes in Trauma/ED.

We have a specific policy to never draw from PICC lines but no policy against drawing from PIV's.

The only time we can draw from a PICC is if we are getting cultures looking for infection. Anybody else have a similar policy?

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We have a specific policy to never draw from PICC lines but no policy against drawing from PIV's.

The only time we can draw from a PICC is if we are getting cultures looking for infection. Anybody else have a similar policy?

I've never heard of such a thing. What is their rationale for not draw labs from a PICC?

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