
Full Answer
Can I sample blood from an arterial line?
Jan 15, 2020 · How do you take a blood sample from an arterial line? The sample can be obtained either through a catheter placed in an artery , or by using a needle and syringe to puncture an artery . These syringes are pre-heparinized and handled to minimize air exposure that will alter the blood gas values.
How do you take a blood gas sample from an artery?
An arterial blood sample is collected from an artery, primarily to determine arterial blood gases. Arterial blood sampling should only be performed by health workers for whom the procedure is in the legal scope of practice for their position in their country and who have demonstrated proficiency after formal training. The sample can be obtained either through a catheter placed …
How do you take a sample from the femoral artery?
• if bioconnector used, do not turn 3-way tap until end of procedure • Attach appropriate syringe (B/C) needed for required blood sample • If bioconnector not being used, turn 3-way tap to open to syringe and arterial catheter and withdraw required amount of blood for blood samples. Do not withdraw more than required amount
How do you syringe arterial blood?
3 Aspirate 10 cc into a sterile or inline syringe attached to that stopcock. 4 Clamp off the line between the syringe/stopcock and the "T" piece or draw from designated inline port. 5 Swab the "T" piece with alcohol or Betadine. UTMB RESPIRATORY CARE SERVICES POLICY - Arterial Line Sampling Policy 7.3.41 Page 2 of 3

What is the best way to reduce pain associated with arterial blood gas sampling?
Local anaesthetic. Pain associated with arterial blood gas sampling can be markedly reduced by the use of subcutaneous local anaesthetic. The British Thoracic Society recommends the routine use of local anaesthetic for obtaining ABG samples except in the context of an emergency or if the patient is unconscious.
How to insert ABG needle?
Holding the ABG syringe like a dart, insert the needle through the skin at the insertion site at an angle of 30-45°. Continue to advance the needle slowly until you feel a sudden reduction in resistance and see a rush of blood back into the ABG syringe.
How to self fill ABG needle?
Once the required amount of blood has been collected remove the needle and apply immediate firm pressure over the puncture site with some gauze. Engage the needle safety device. Remove the ABG needle from the syringe and discard immediately into a sharps bin.
How much should PaO2 be when oxygenating?
PaO2 should be greater than 10 kPa when oxygenating on room air in a healthy patient. If the patient is receiving oxygen therapy their PaO2 should be approximately 10kPa less than the % inspired concentration FiO2 (so a patient on 40% oxygen would be expected to have a PaO 2 of approximately 30kPa).
How to verify blood collection?
Verify there is an order, protocol or medical directive to support the collection of blood. Order laboratory tests in OneChart and obtain labels. Check labels with patient's armband at bedside to verify patient, test and label is correct.
What is the purpose of a syringe for blood?
Note: If you are not collecting any blood into vacuum tubes (i.e, blood gases, glucometer samples or point-of-care testing), a syringe can be used to collect the discard sample and to back flush. 3. Prepare Equipment and Environment. Explain procedure to patient/family.
How to prevent back splash of blood when vacuum is released?
Turn the stopcock to 45 degrees before removing the tube from the vacutainer to prevent back splash of blood when the vacuum is released. Do not turn the stopcock directly toward the sampling port during blood sampling (this would leave the circuit open between the flush and the patient).
How many ml of blood is required for a PICC?
A minimum discard sample of 5 ml is required when drawing blood samples from central venous lines due to longer lumen volume.
Can you turn off IVs before blood sampling?
These IVs should be turned off prior to sampling. If an infusion cannot be safely stopped during blood sampling, an alternative method for blood sampling is recommended. Consider IV contamination for any patient with unusual electrolyte or lab values. TPN can significantly contaminate blood samples.
How do doctors insert a central line?
The process of how the doctors actually insert the central line can be found below: Setting up an arterial line pressure tubing system and transducer. Arterial line insertion. In addition to continuous blood pressure monitoring, arterial lines are also quite useful in telling acid-base balance and oxygenation levels.
What is arterial line in ICU?
Arterial lines are commonly used in ICUs to continuously monitor a patient's blood pressure. Patients in my ICU that commonly have arterial lines are those who have gone to the OR, have poor arterial vasculature, have unreliable blood pressure readings, or have multiple vasopressor medications infusing.

Gather Equipment
Introduction
- Wash your hands and don PPEif appropriate. Introduce yourself to the patient including your name and role. Confirm the patient’s name and date of birth. Briefly explain what the procedure will involve using patient-friendly language: “I need to take a sample of blood from an artery in your wrist to accurately assess your oxygen levels. The procedure will be a little painful, however, it s…
Modified Allen’s Test
- Before taking a sample from the radial artery, a modified Allen’s test should be performed to assess the collateral arterial supply of the hand from the ulnar artery. The idea behind this assessment is to make sure the patient’s hand isn’t exclusively reliant on the radial artery for its blood supply, in which case sampling should be avoided. To perform a modified Allen’s test: 1. A…
Preparation
- Oxygen and body temperature
Note the patient’s body temperature and if the patient is currently receiving oxygen therapy, note the oxygen delivery device and flow rate. These factors can significantly affect results and are taken into account by the arterial blood gas analyser. - Equipment
Remove all equipment from its packaging so that it is easily accessible during the procedure. Attach the needle, with its protective cover intact, to the pre-heparinised ABG syringe.
Procedure
- Palpation
Assess the course of the radial artery to determine where you plan to perform arterial sampling: 1.Palpate the radial artery over the wrist of the patient’s non-dominant hand to identify an ideal puncture site. You should use the tips of your fingers to clearly map out the course of the radial … - Local anaesthetic
Pain associated with arterial blood gas sampling can be markedly reduced by the use of subcutaneous local anaesthetic. The British Thoracic Society recommends the routine use of local anaesthetic for obtaining ABG samples except in the context of an emergency or if the pati…
to Complete The Procedure…
- Explain to the patient that the procedure is now complete. Thank the patientfor their time. Dispose of your PPE and equipment into an appropriate clinical waste bin. Wash your hands. Take the ABG sample to be analysedas soon as possible after being taken as delays longer than 10 minutes can affect the accuracy of results. Document the ABG results in the patient’s notes (see our guide to …
References
- WHO guidelines on drawing blood: best practices in phlebotomy. Published in 2010. Available from: [LINK].