Vacutainers and PICC lines

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Specializes in ER.

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?

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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).

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Specializes in home health, dialysis, others.

Vacutainer whenever possible - safer.

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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.

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

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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.

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We use 10cc syringes with the double stopcock technique.

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

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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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