A Medical Provider’s Guide to the Types of Needles for Blood Drawing
All phlebotomists want is to give their patients the most comfortable and successful blood test that they can. Yet, with 25% of US adults admitting to a fear of needles, this is sometimes easier said than done. It is also estimated that about 16% of adults skip necessary blood tests and other procedures altogether due to this fear.
It could be that bad experiences during a blood draw in the past contributed to this. That’s why choosing the right types of needles for blood drawing is so important. Make the right choice, and the patient will hardly notice a thing.
Let’s explore the types of needles for blood drawing you should be using and when.
Straight Needles
Straight needles are the absolute workhorses of the medical profession. As their name suggests, they’re simple, thin, hollow tubes that allow the phlebotomist a lot of control. Typically, straight needles are the cheapest type and most widely available throughout the world.
Early Days
Straight needles were first invented back in 1844 by an Irish doctor called Francis Rynd, and it’s fair to say they’ve been refined a lot since those early days. Of course, back then, they were strictly for administering medication, not drawing blood. The science of blood testing was refined over time, taking the form we know today in about the 1960s.
Benefits of Straight Needles
Straight needles typically have a wider gauge than their main competitors, butterfly needles. This makes them more suitable for patients who have larger and easily accessible veins. As they are the more established and widely used of the two main types of needles, they are usually less expensive.
Disadvantages of Straight Needles
Due to their larger gauge, straight needles may not be as comfortable for patients. This is especially true when drawing blood from children or adults with smaller or more fragile veins. Their larger size can also make them more difficult to insert.
What Phlebotomists Prefer
Naturally, preferences vary from practitioner to practitioner, but many phlebotomists prefer to use straight needles with adults. They are easy and efficient for blood draws and allow for a deeper insertion than butterfly needles.
There is no consensus among phlebotomists on whether straight needles really do cause less pain than butterfly needles. Much of this may be down to perception. When used skillfully, a straight needle can result in a practically pain-free blood draw that will cause minimal distress to the patient.
Butterfly Needles
Winged infusion sets, or butterfly needles, are designed to be the most comfortable option for drawing blood. They have a smaller gauge needle than traditional straight needles and a flexible tube that forms “wings.” These wings allow the phlebotomist to insert the needle at a more comfortable angle.
The butterfly needle’s design allows the practitioner to place it very precisely. It is held by the wings using the thumb and index finger and has a short needle, allowing for accurate positioning.
Some models now include a slide-and-lock safety feature. This covers the needle after use, helping reduce the risk of needlestick injuries and accidental reuse of used needles.
Benefits of Butterfly Needles
The main cited benefit of butterfly needles is that their smaller gauge size causes less pain to patients. As they are easier to place precisely, they can also be effective in patients with small veins or fragile veins.
These benefits mean that they are almost always the needle of choice when drawing blood from younger patients. The sight of a butterfly needle is much less intimidating to children than a straight needle. Because they are more precise, they are also easier to place in toddlers, with their tendency to wriggle and squirm.
Butterfly needles also benefit elderly patients, whose veins may be particularly fragile or difficult to access. Phlebotomists can gain easier access to veins that are thinner due to the aging process. The blood draw will also be more comfortable for the patient.
Another advantage is that blood specimens are less likely to be damaged by butterfly needles than by IV catheters. One study found that only 2.7% of blood drawn from butterfly needles suffered hemolysis, or destruction of the red blood cells. By contrast, 14.6% of blood drawn from catheters suffered hemolysis.
Drawbacks of Butterfly Needles
The main drawback of butterfly needles is their greater cost than straight needles. As they involve wings and flexible tubing, they have more parts and are more expensive to manufacture. Also, while they are ideal for small veins, they may not be well suited to larger and more easily accessible veins.
Butterfly needles are not generally as effective as straight needles for drawing multiple blood samples. This issue came to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unprecedented numbers of sick people and a demand for blood testing led to widespread shortages.
At this time, the FDA published recommendations to limit the use of butterfly needles and favor straight needles as they can draw more samples with a single shot. However, as this situation has now passed, butterfly needles can again be used when they are the best choice for the patient and situation.
Straight vs Butterfly Needle Options: Which One Wins?
Both straight and butterfly needles have their place in phlebotomy. The phlebotomist’s training and skill determine which type of needle is right for the situation.
However, as a general rule, stick to straight needles when working with adults with large, visible veins. When working with toddlers and seniors, stick to butterfly needles.
Our Phlebotomists Know the Right Types of Needles for Blood Drawing
Choosing the right types of needles for blood drawing can have a big impact on your patient. That’s why it pays to work with phlebotomists who provide outstanding blood testing services day in and day out and have the facilities to process the tests.
At Precision Labs, we work with a wide range of medical providers. From assisted living facilities to doctors’ offices, our staff can collect and process samples in a timely manner for you.
Learn more about who we serve and whether we could be the right partner for your organization.