Technique 2: Venepuncture

Intermediate procedure

Advantages:
You can aquire blood straight from the vein, and the procedure is aesthetically very "medical" in appearance.

The risks:
Intermediate to high.
You will be using a hypodermic (hollow bore) needle which carries a high risk of viral transmission if sharps injury occurs.
You will be entering a blood vessel so there is a risk of introducing things into the blood stream that could cause serious (if not fatal) injury to the donor.
These include:

• Bacteria (which may cause infection of the blood stream)
• Air: which can cause air embolus (a bubble of air which travels around the blood stream, finally lodging in the heart or lungs causing serious complications to the donor which will require emergency medical treatment.)

Preparation
Where possible choose a vein which is:

• Felt easily and feels "bouncy"
• On the non-dominant side for the donor
• Away from any cuts, scratches, skin problems

Equipment list

• Hypodermic needle of appropriate size (usually 18-22g)
• Tourniquet (soft, quick release)
• Alcohol swab
• Non-sterile gloves
• Sharps container
• Cotton wool balls and band aids (plasters)
• Syringe of appropriate size (depending on how much blood you wish to collect)

The Procedure

• Wash your hands & put on non-sterile gloves
• Find a suitable vein by having the donor:
  • Open & close the fist
  • Lower the arm below the heart
  • Wrap the arm in something warm or immerse in warm water
  • Apply a soft, quick release tourniquet
• Feel for the vein
• Clean the skin over the vein with an alcohol wipe & allow to dry (approx 30 seconds)
• Check all packaging is in date and intact (not torn or wet)
• Remove the syringe from the packaging and check all parts are working
• Attach the hypodermic needle
• Remove the protective sleeve from the needle taking care not to touch it at any point in the procedure
• Holding the syringe and needle in your dominant hand, stretch the skin over the vein (which should also anchor the vein) with your non-dominant hand
• Insert the needle (bevel side up) at an angle of 30-45 degrees to the skin (this will depend on how deep the vein is.)
• Insert the needle swiftly into the vein, feeling for it entering the vein itself
• Look for blood ("flash back") in the hub of the syringe
• Once in the vein support the syringe and gently pull back on the plunger to draw blood
• Take care to avoid air bubbles from the syringe entering the vein
• Once enough blood is drawn, release the tourniquet
• Withdraw the needle from the vein, and apply pressure immediately over the puncture site (the donor can do this)
• Remove the needle from the syringe and put it straight into a sharps container (be extra careful to avoid sharps injury at this point.)
• Use the blood you have obtained (avoid using the same vein to collect more blood until it is fully healed and no bruising is visible)

lili (July 2008)