This document provides an introduction to blood collection, including the importance of proper techniques and safety precautions. It discusses the learning objectives, which focus on correct collection methods, specimen integrity, and quality assurance. Types of specimens that can be collected include whole blood, plasma, serum, and differences between them. Precautions like standard precautions, needle safety, and specimen handling are covered. Venipuncture, arterial, capillary and venous blood collection are also introduced.

1. INTRODUCTION TO
BLOOD COLLECTION
Blood Collection: A Short Course

2. Learning Objectives
 State the importance of correct blood
collection techniques in managing total
patient care.
 List the factors that influence the integrity
of a blood specimen.
 Discuss safety precautions as related to
blood collection.
 Differentiate between whole blood,
plasma, and serum.

3. Learning Objectives
 Explain the action of anticoagulants to
prevent blood coagulation.
 Describe the appearance of a hemolyzed,
icteric, and lipemic specimen.
 Differentiate between arterial, venous, and
capillary blood.
 State the purpose of quality assurance in
blood collection.

4. Redesigning the
Healthcare System
 Shifting of phlebotomy responsibility.
 New skills required.

5. Blood Collection: A Short Course
Purpose
 Collection of quality specimens
 Instructive information
 Technique
 Procedures in accordance with the
Clinical and Laboratory Standards
Institute, (CLSI) (Standard H3-A6) and
Occupational Safety & Health
Administration (OSHA) guidelines

6. Blood Collection: A Short Course
Course Overview
 Equipment
 Site selection
 Technique
 Complications
 Specimen handling
 Phlebotomy errors
 Venipuncture practice

7. IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT SPECIMEN
COLLECTION AND HANDLING
QUALITY SPECIMENS =
QUALITY RESULTS
 Diagnosis
 Treatment
 Monitoring
 Laboratory results constitute 70% of the
objective information for health-care providers

8. IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT SPECIMEN
COLLECTION AND HANDLING
Specimen Integrity
 Laboratory guidelines
 Never hesitate to check with
laboratory
 Clinical Laboratory Improvement
Amendments of 1988 (CLIA, 1988)
 Laboratory is responsible

9. IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT SPECIMEN
COLLECTION AND HANDLING
Preanalytical Factors
 56% of lab errors occur before the
specimen is tested
 Monitoring of specimen ordering
 Patient identification
 Patient communication and safety
 Patient preparation
 Timing of collections
 Collection technique
 Specimen labeling
 Specimen handling and transport

10. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Standard Precautions
 Personal protective equipment (PPE)
 Isolation Procedures
 Hand washing
 Properly activating needle safety devices
 Biohazard disposal
 Decontamination
 Sodium hypochlorite (1:10)

11. SAFETYPRECAUTIONS

12. SAFETYPRECAUTIONS

13. SAFETYPRECAUTIONS

14. SAFETYPRECAUTIONS

15. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Accidental Puncture
 Significant exposure potential
 Report all needlesticks
 Follow institution’s protocol for
source and employee testing

16. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Syringe-To-Tube Transfer
 Recommended procedure
 Use blood-transfer device
 Removal of stoppers not
recommended
 Direct puncture of tube with syringe
needle not recommended

17. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Specimen Processing
 Centrifugation
 Capped, balanced tubes
 Separation
 Removal of stoppers
 Aerosol production

18. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Specimen Transport
 Primary container
 Secondary container
 Labeling

19. TYPES OF SPECIMENS
Whole Blood
 Consists of:
 Erythrocytes
 Leukocytes
 Platelets
 Plasma
 Use anticoagulated (unclotted)
specimen

20. TYPES OF SPECIMENS
Plasma
 Liquid portion of unclotted blood
 Contains fibrinogen
 Use anticoagulated specimen

21. TYPES OF SPECIMENS
Serum
 Clotted blood
 Does not contain fibrinogen
 Use “clot” tube

22. TYPES OF SPECIMENS
Centrifugation

23. TYPES OF SPECIMENS
Anticoagulants
 Calcium binding
 EDTA
 Sodium citrate
 Potassium oxalate
 Thrombin inhibition
 Heparin

24. TYPES OF SPECIMENS
MIX ANTICOAGULATED
SPECIMENS THOROUGHLY
IMMEDIATELY AFTER
COLLECTION

25. TYPES OF SPECIMENS
Normal Plasma & Serum
 Appear clear & pale yellow
Hemolyzed Specimens
 Appear pink-red
 Erythrocyte
destruction

26. TYPES OF SPECIMENS
Icteric Specimens
 Appear dark yellow
 Increased bilirubin
Lipemic Specimens
 Appear milky
 Increased lipids

27. TYPES OF SPECIMENS
Venous Blood
 Specimen of choice
 Used to establish Normal values
Arterial Blood
 Blood gases
 Require special collection training

28. TYPES OF SPECIMENS
Capillary Blood
 Dermal puncture collection
 Mixture of arterial and venous blood
 Note on requisition if blood is collected by
dermal puncture