Figure 3-1. Site of venipuncture.
toward the body, or by gently slapping the site of puncture. Young and vigorous
persons usually have elastic veins well filled with blood. Elderly or debilitated persons
can have sclerosed or fragile veins, which are hard to enter or which collapse easily.
b. Equipment. All syringes, needles, lancets, and other instruments used for
the collection of blood specimens must be sterile. Disposable syringes or blood
collection sets with vacuum tubes are available through normal supply channels. These
should be used whenever possible. Aseptic technique is necessary to prevent the
possible transmission of homologous serum hepatitis. The following equipment is
necessary to perform a venipuncture:
(1)
Isopropyl alcohol, 70 percent, prep pads.
(2)
Tourniquet.
(3)
Sterile syringes or vacuum blood sample devices.
(4)
Gauze pad, 2 x 2 inches.
(5)
Needle, 1 to 1 inches long, 1923 gauge.
(6)
Suitable blood collection tubes and labels.
(7)
Gloves, latex.
MD0853
3-3