Venipuncture
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Introduction
venipuncture - Richard Chambers
The ability to draw a sample of venous blood is fundamental to medicine as it is currently practiced. It is considered the most basic vascular procedure and is one to which most of us have been subjected at some time in our lives. It is typically performed using one of the antecubital (volar elbow) veins.
Although blood samples may be drawn from a variety of arterial and venous sites, the antecubital veins are usually most accessible and only that technique will be described here.
Types of Tubes
Vacuum tubes almost always contain anticoagulant:
- EDTA (preferred for blood cell counts)
- citrate
- heparin
Resources and References
peripheral venous access video (Dalhousie University Common Common Currency)
phlebotomy video (Dalhousie University Common Common Currency)
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