Choosing the Right Blood Drawing Needle for Precision and Comfort
Blood tests are useful when checking for various health conditions and can also help a physician evaluate the overall functioning of a patient’s organs. While the correct skills and techniques are essential for successfully drawing blood, a phlebotomist should also choose the right needle to use as well.
Needles come in various sizes and configurations and a phlebotomist needs to balance a patient’s comfort with easy penetration of the skin and rapid blood withdrawal. A patient will be more comfortable if the chosen needle is perfectly suited to their needs.
Below we’ll look at how to choose the right blood drawing needle for precision and patient comfort.
Does Blood Drawing Needle Choice Matter?
Drawing blood correctly relies on knowing the proper blood draw techniques as well as choosing the right phlebotomy tools. Choosing the correct blood drawing needle for the patient and for the application is necessary to ensure that the process goes smoothly and the patient is kept as comfortable as possible.
There are various factors to consider when choosing a needle, including its gauge size, length, and more. Phlebotomists should use a phlebotomy needle size chart to choose the best needle for each particular patient.
Keeping a patient comfortable should be a top priority, as should getting the blood drawn efficiently. Using the right needle can help the process go much more smoothly.
How to Choose a Blood Drawing Needle
The right needle will improve precision and enhance the comfort of a patient. Here are the factors to consider when choosing a needle to use.
Consider Needle Gauge Options
Perhaps the most essential thing to think about when choosing a needle for blood drawing purposes is the gauge. The gauge indicates the needle’s diameter and the relationship is inverse. This means that a larger gauge number correlates with a smaller diameter needle and vice versa.
Generally, a large-gauge needle will be used for thicker fluids. In the drawing of blood, a large gauge is commonly used to allow for increased comfort while also ensuring easy blood flow. Needles with larger gauges will also be more durable and penetrate the skin more easily.
Remember, you also need to consider the gauge for the specific patient as well. When choosing a needle to use with a patient, it’s ideal to consider both the size of a patient’s veins as well as the purpose for drawing their blood.
Consider the Needle Length
In addition to the gauge of the needle, you should also consider the length. The length you’ll choose will vary based on the application. Generally, a short needle will be needed for a superficial vein, while a longer needle will be best for a deep vein.
The size of an individual will also affect the length that will be needed for a particular patient. For example, a much shorter needle will typically be used for a child, while a longer needle will typically be used for an adult.
Check the Needle Bevel
It’s also worth thinking about the bevel of the needle you choose. The bevel is the slant on the front of the needle that penetrates the skin. A bevel can be of various lengths.
A bevel with a sharper angle is likely to cause more pain to a patient than a needle with a shallower angle. A shallower angle will provide more comfort to the patient.
A shorter bevel length, however, allows for a bit more precision. This may be needed if the penetration will be more shallow, as with certain intradermal injections.
Understand Straight and Butterfly Needles
Another thing that should be considered when choosing a phlebotomy needle is whether a butterfly needle or straight needle is required. Winged infusion sets known as butterfly needles are extra small and thin and can be helpful for certain patients and applications.
Butterfly needles are known to provide a high amount of comfort to a patient when compared to a straight needle. These needles also allow for extra precision and can be useful if a patient has particularly small veins or veins that are hard to access.
Best Practices for Drawing Blood
The World Health Organization (WHO) has outlined some best practices for drawing blood. Phlebotomists should be following these in addition to choosing the right needle.
Following these recommended best practices can help phlebotomists maintain patient comfort and keep them safe. These practices will help reduce the risk of infection and ensure that test results are as accurate as possible. It can also help ensure all phlebotomists stay safe as well and prevent the possibility of accidental needle penetration and infections.
Here are some of the things that the WHO recommends.
Plan Ahead
Phlebotomists should always plan ahead and anticipate any challenges that may occur when drawing blood from a patient. They should have all of the needed supplies ready and have confirmed all orders for the test before they start drawing blood.
Draw at the Correct Location
A phlebotomist should also ensure they choose the right vein when drawing blood. The vein should have excellent suitability due to its visibility and ease of access.
Certain vein locations should also be avoided. This includes areas that are swollen, scarred, or where hematomas are present.
Maintain Quality Control
Quality control is also essential for anybody who is performing blood drawing work. A phlebotomist should follow aseptic technique and maintain medical needle safety during a blood drawing procedure. This can help prevent contamination and ensure complete safety throughout the entire process.
Choosing the Best Blood Drawing Needle
When performing phlebotomy work, it’s essential to use the correct blood drawing needle. You can choose the right needle by carefully considering the needs of the patient and the application. Be sure to consider the gauge, length, and bevel of the needle when making a decision.
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