PIV usage for lab draws - POLL

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  1. Do you use PIV for labs?

    • 15
      Yes, PIV can be used when med's/fluids are also being run through PIV.
    • 21
      NO, PIV can not be used, must draw from seperate site
    • 7
      Pediatric population
    • 17
      Adult population
    • 0
      NO policy

37 members have participated

As part of my residency I am doing a research project covering the usage of peripheral IV's for lab draws. Looking for info on what other hospitals policies are as far as use of PIV's that are also being used for med's and/or fluids.

peds or adult hospital (what State are you in)?

yes or no to use of PIV's for labs?

Thanks everyone!!

Specializes in Pediatrics, ICU.

PICU Nurse,

We can use PIVs to draw our labs. We have to pause our meds/fluids, flush our line, draw a waste of at lease 3 cc's (could be more or less depending on the size of the patient) and then draw our labs. We usually return the waste that we draw off of our patients and then restart the meds or fluids. If the PIV is not in use we usually hep lock the IV after we drawn from it. I'm in North Carolina by the way.

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Specializes in Ortho/Med-Surg, L&D, Observation/ER.

I am an L&D nurse in Virginia. We do draw labs off of newly placed PIVs. We wait until the lab is at the bedside and then start the IV. They also do it that way in the ED, except they have their own "mini lab". I am not sure how the rest of the hospital does it though.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

With initial IV placement it is ok per our policy. Otherwise we must draw from a separate site.

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thank you everyone for you answers, it seems it is a mix of usage practices. I will keep a close eye on more results.

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