NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)Collection RoutineMedium
A phlebotomy technician is collecting a blood specimen from a patient who has an IV infusion running in the right arm. The requested tests are routine chemistry and CBC. Which of the following is the most appropriate action?
- ADraw from above the IV site in the right arm.
- BDraw the blood from a vein distal to the IV site in the right arm.
- CDraw the blood from the left arm.
- DTemporarily stop the IV infusion for 2 minutes and then draw below the IV.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Draw the blood from the left arm.
Drawing blood from the opposite arm (left arm in this scenario) is the preferred method when an IV infusion is running. This prevents dilution of the blood specimen by the IV fluid, which could lead to inaccurate test results.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Drawing above the IV site is highly discouraged because the IV fluid flows distally (downstream), potentially diluting the blood collected from a vein above the IV insertion.
- B. Drawing distal to the IV site is a less preferred option and still carries a risk of dilution or contamination if the IV has been running recently or at a high rate.
- D. Stopping the IV infusion, even temporarily, is typically outside the phlebotomy technician's scope of practice and requires a nurse's intervention. Even then, residual fluid can still affect results.
Venipuncture with IV Infusion
Guidelines for safely collecting blood specimens from patients receiving IV infusions to prevent dilution or contamination of the sample.
- Always prefer the opposite arm if available.
- If opposite arm is not an option, draw below the IV site.
- Never draw above an IV site.
- If drawing below, ask nurse to stop IV for 2-5 minutes, discard first 5 mL of blood, or draw below the IV and document the site.
Memory trick: IV in one arm? Use the other arm's charm!