How to Perform Venipuncture (Laboratory Blood Testing)

Instructions on how to properly and safely perform a blood draw to obtain laboratory results for providers.

To do this successfully, you will need:

1. patient labels
2. gloves
3. tourniquet
4. tape
5. alcohol pad
6. cotton ball
7. vacutainer
8. vacutainer hub.

Call the patient into the drawing room, have them take a seat, and then ask for their name and date of birth.

Gather your supplies and put your gloves on, this part is necessary to prevent exposure to blood-borne pathogens.

Tie the tourniquet tight around the patient's arm or wrist. To do this, you will wrap it around the back of the arm with the two ends toward you. You will then cross the ends and tuck one halfway under the other to secure it in place, failure to do so correctly can prohibit the veins from popping up.

Find the vein you plan on using with your first or middle finger. Depending on the size of the patient's veins, this step may take a few seconds. Take your time to make sure you find a vein that you can successfully draw from with only one stick. Typically, you will choose a vein that's in the bend of the arm or the top of the hand.

Grab the alcohol pad and clean the area on which you have chosen to perform the venipuncture, let it dry completely before moving to the next step. Do not touch the area after cleaning to prevent recontamination.

Grip the vacutainer and perform the venipuncture. After you have entered the vein, attach the correct test tube to the vacutainer hub, causing the tube to fill with the blood specimen. Change out tubes until you have the desired amount to run the laboratory labs ordered.

Release the tourniquet by pulling one of the loose ends toward you. This will help prevent the vein from blowing or causing bruising. Then, place the cotton ball over the site and gently pull the needle out.

Close the needle until you hear it click. Do not skip this step. If this is skipped, you take the risk of being stuck by a dirty needle, resulting in possible blood-borne diseases or infections. Afterward, place the tape over the cotton ball.

Complete the venipuncture by placing the patients' labels on appropriate test tubes in front of the patient.