Why is this so? Because with the baby's smaller veins, would you be able to fill 2cc of baby's blood to a 2cc EDTA tube with another 3cc for its chem test? Hmm..maybe! But it really depends on the baby's vein (if it could withstand the syringe method of draw). I know some of us depend on dripping method where you squeeze the baby's hand as the blood drips from the needle. I know the feeling that you have to get the right amount of blood before it starts to clot. It might even add trouble as you deliver it to the lab and it happened it was hemolyzed or platelets clumped. Tsk2. That's why microtainers™ are a big help for us to an easier blood collection.
REMEMBER: Don't compromise QUALITY over QUANTITY.
Microtainers™ are small blood collection containers designed for collecting a minimum volume enough for running lab tests. Be it thru venipuncture or capillary puncture. Additives such as the EDTA are added in proportion to the blood where you just need to fill a minimum of 0.5cc up to 1 cc. Even plain microtainer tubes can yield up to 300ul of serum enough to run electrolytes or bilirubin.
Microtainers™ can even compensate short draws from your venipuncture. A microtainer™ for CBC can save up more blood to be used for chemistry or other tests requiring serum.
But then, just a friendly reminder... conserve your microtainers™:-) Use it when necessary. It's more expensive than the usual ones. This may give a burden to the ones assigned in hematology because these tubes should be fed manually. So, if you think the blood is adequate, use the regular tubes.
The more microtainers™ you submit (even those who are from adult patients) would reflect your phlebotomy skill.
Microtainers™ can even compensate short draws from your venipuncture. A microtainer™ for CBC can save up more blood to be used for chemistry or other tests requiring serum.
The more microtainers™ you submit (even those who are from adult patients) would reflect your phlebotomy skill.
1 comment:
This is a great article. I would like to request, for the sake of accuracy, that you either remove the reference to Microtainer, which is a registered trademark of Becton Dickinson, and replace it with the ETS terminology used elsewhere in your article. OR, if you would like to reference Microtainer branded materials specifically, please add the (TM)symbol, or accredit the term to Becton Dickinson (BD).
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