Research on Blood Loss from Labs

BarbPick · Feb 2, 2004

Originally posted by caroladybelle
As an Oncology nurse, my patients have a lot (too many) labs drawn, mostly from central accesses. When you consider that the MDs want 5-10 cc waste with each draw to get "clean/accurate" results and the blood for the tests itself, there is a lot of blood loss. Induction patients may get drawn 2-3 times a day. Pre-Transplant patients are getting blood draws, up to every hour for Busulfan.

Has anyone seen any research or thought about research, regarding monitoring that loss, or about the safety/efficacy of reinjecting the waste draw?

Thank you for any assistance.

Carolina

Answering as a CRNI, OCN I can't quote the research, just what we do about it. It started in pediatric Oncology and having to transfuse kids right and left from blood draw withrawal. It has become common practice to do a 3 time exchange without throwing out and wasting any blood.

Meaning on a child in a central line, 5 cc's of saline is flused in, without breaking the connection after the saline is in, pulling 5 cc of blood and shooting it back in for a total of 3 times, the 4th withdrawal is considered a "pure sample" and used for testing.

When it was compaired with G-d knows who doing peripheral sticks, the lab results were so close, it has become a common practice with patients who can't afford to lose blood for at least 7 years that I know of.

fab4fan · Feb 3, 2004

Carolina: Try this site .

If there isn't a specific thread with an answer to your question, if you go into the "Ask A Professional" forum, I can guarantee you you will get a response.

This is an excellent site with a lot of clinical info. Hope it helps.