Why do you remove the tourniquet during a blood draw?

Avoidance of contaminated phlebotomy equipment Tourniquets are a potential source of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with up to 25\% of tourniquets contaminated through lack of hand hygiene on the part of the phlebotomist or reuse of contaminated tourniquets (35).

Should you remove a tourniquet?

Arteries may be harder to stop as they are less easy to get to. Moreover, if the venous return is stopped by the tourniquet, the only place for blood to come out is from the wound. NEVER be tempted to loosen or remove a tourniquet. Once applied, tourniquets should only ever be removed by a doctor in a hospital setting.

What can happen if the tourniquet is left on too long before drawing blood?

A prolonged tourniquet time may lead to blood pooling at the venipuncture site, a condition called hemoconcentration. Hemoconcentration can cause falsely elevated results for glucose, potassium, and protein-based analytes such as cholesterol.

Why is the correct order of the draw so important when collecting blood samples?

Blood samples must be drawn by phlebotomists in a specific order to avoid cross-contamination of the sample by additives found in different collection tubes. Phlebotomy order of draw is the same for specimens collected by syringe, tube holder, or into tubes preevacuated at the time of collection.

What happens when you remove a tourniquet?

Releasing it too soon, causing severe bleeding to resume. Not only can the bleeding result in death, but the returning blood flow can also damage compressed blood vessels. Leaving it on too long, causing neurovascular damage and tissue death.

How long should you leave a tourniquet on when drawing blood?

Remember that the tourniquet shouldn’t be on for more than 1 minute because it can change the blood composition. If you’re drawing multiple tubes, it’s acceptable to keep the tourniquet on when you place a new tube as long as the total tourniquet time remains less than 1 minute.

What happens when tourniquet is left on?

A tourniquet is easily applied and requires the use of a relatively uncomplicated piece of equipment. However, improper or prolonged placement of a tourniquet because of poor medical training can lead to serious injuries, such as nerve paralysis and limb ischemia.

What is the purpose of warming a draw site prior to the blood draw?

Warming the site will increase the Page 4 blood flow, making it easier to collect the specimen. As the specimen is being collected, be sure the blood is not running or smearing on the skin surface.

What is the function of tourniquet?

A tourniquet is a device that is placed around a bleeding arm or leg. Tourniquets work by squeezing large blood vessels. The squeezing helps stop blood loss.

What is tourniquet What is it used for?

Tourniquets are tight bands used to completely stop the blood flow to a wound. To control bleeding after an injury to a limb, tourniquets should ideally only be used by first responders trained in emergency first aid. Knowing when (and when not) to use a tourniquet to control bleeding can be difficult to ascertain.

What is the importance in using the order of draw?

The order of draw is recommended for both glass and plastic venous collections tubes when drawing multiple specimens for medical laboratory testing during a single venipuncture. The purpose is to avoid possible test result error due to additive carryover. All additive tubes should be filled to their stated volumes.