Blood collection is the lead process in medical diagnosis and treatment and forms the basis for most tests and assessments. Whether routine check-up or more specialized diagnostic procedure, how accurately blood would be obtained would mean valid results. And thus, there must be several steps in the process from the preparation of patients to specific techniques directed towards minimum contamination and therefore minimum risk both for the patients themselves and for those carrying out treatment.
Blood collection is one of the many common yet crucial techniques employed in the clinical profession to make diagnoses. The procedure varies as it relates to methods of collecting blood specimens depending on the tests and is done with a patient. Proper handling and taking of these blood specimens is among the determining factors for the validity of these tests.
Bloody collection is mainly practiced during the specimen collection process of blood samples for their examination in a laboratory, which is based on the diagnosis of any disease, the follow-up of the treatment process, and the general state of physiological condition. Blood tests may provide an overview of the diagnosis of a range of diseases, including infections, metabolic disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases.
The most common procedures are arterial blood sample, fingerstick, and venipuncture. Venipuncture is mostly utilized to obtain higher volumes of blood because blood is extracted from a vein; smaller volumes are usually obtained from fingersticks-in the case of glucose monitoring, for example.
Among the medical professionals, there are phlebotomists, nurses, and physicians who are qualified to carry out the blood extraction procedures. This gears up the samples in an ease manner and without much pain to the patient.
To collect blood, a patient as much as possible should prepare themselves for this. This can be done by educating a patient on what to expect, a patient hydrating pre-procedure, and positioning a patient in a way that does not stimulate anxiety or risk of syncope.
The textbook states that the chosen venipuncture procedure must be appropriate. Having been assisted by a tourniquet that has made the major visible veins in the arm visible, the needle is then administered to the selected vein; this is then withdrawn into the collection tube with the amount of blood that is preferred. One should note that the policy of appropriate sterile precautions is observed to avoid contamination.
A lancet is used to prick the finger and obtain a small droplet of blood in fingerstick collection, mainly for point-of-care testing. It is less invasive than venipuncture though it is only used on tests that require a smaller amount of blood. The appropriate tool facilitates accuracy and safety in the collection of blood. The different tools applied depend on the requirement of the test, the quantity required, and the technique of collection.
Blood samples are drawn out and put into evacuated tubes called vacuumtainers. These come in various colors depending upon the additive required for a specific test-heparin, EDTA clot activators etc.
Lancets are long, needle-pointed thin instruments applied for tiny punctures of the patient's skin that creates openings in capillary tubes. These are metallic or plastic made. In a few countries, the blood collects in pipette tube after puncture and then transferred to capillary tubes.
With the use of personal protection equipment, such as withdrawable needles and needle collection devices, employees in charge of handling the blood samples will be protected from exposure to other blood-borne infections and the occurrence of needle stick injuries will be minimized.
The risks associated with venipuncture or blood collection can be as minimal as needle pricks and infectious agent transference. Infection transmission will be totally removed when the implementation of safety and hygiene rules would be followed. It secures patient safety as well as that of a healthcare provider.
In the performance of procedure, proper glove use and sterile supply have an important characteristic to ensure that infection development is avoided. In prevention, an antimicrobial disinfection for a puncture wound is required
Among the very common medical procedures are those that include blood collection, which involves withdrawal of blood from the patient for diagnostic and monitoring purposes in relation to a wide range of medical conditions. Proper procedures, right equipment, and provision of safety measures are indispensable considerations that ensure the achievement of good results without compromising protection on both sides between the patient and the healthcare provider. As regards the developments made in technology, this procedure of collecting blood has come out to be safer, efficient, and tolerable to the patients.