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Nursing Knowledge
Venipuncture is a medical procedure used to obtain blood samples for diagnostic testing. It involves puncturing a vein with a needle and collecting blood in a tube or syringe.
Common venipuncture sites include the median cubital vein, the cephalic vein, and the basilic vein.
The median cubital vein in the antecubital fossa is often the first choice for venipuncture. It's usually easy to locate and tends to be less painful for the client.
If possible, the following sites should be avoided with venipuncture:
For venipuncture, the needle should typically be inserted at an angle of 30 degrees to the skin's surface. The exact angle may vary depending on the vein's depth and the client’s specific anatomy. A shallower angle is often used for veins that are close to the surface.
Blood samples must be drawn in the correct order to avoid cross-contamination by additives found in other collection tubes.
The correct order of draw for blood collection tubes is:
You can remember the order with this mnemonic:
Contraindications to venipuncture include limb restriction due to history of DVT, lymphadenectomy, or dialysis fistula, lymphedema, and active lesions.
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