What is venipuncture? As modern medicine has advanced, the need for trained phlebotomists who are qualified to perform venipuncture has continually increased. Venipuncture is the method of drawing blood for various medical purposes, and it is a modern marvel compared to the ancient art of bloodletting that was actually little more than barbaric quack medicine. The old practices of bloodletting to eradicate evil spirits and cure illnesses were sometimes deadly and almost always ineffective, but modern venipuncture is an effective way to gather blood for testing, diagnoses and transfusion.
The Process of Venipuncture
Venipuncture is performed on the inner elbow in most cases. Sometimes, however, the phlebotomist cannot locate a vein in this section of the patient's body, so they must turn to other parts of the arm or wrist or other parts of the body in rare cases. The phlebotomist performing venipuncture starts by tying a tourniquet around the arm, then the next step is to insert a sterile, unused needle through the skin and into the vein. If this process was successful, the blood will begin to be sucked up through the vacuum tube and into the test tube that will be sealed and labeled before sending off for testing. If the blood doesn't start flowing, though, the phlebotomist must look for another vein and start over.
In some cases, when the physician has ordered multiple tests for the same patient, the phlebotomist may have to use several vacuum tubes. They are each filled up, labeled and sent off for the separate tests. This should not require more than one venipuncture unless the first vein proved unsuccessful.
In some rare cases, syringes are used to extract blood, but this is usually not practiced unless really necessary. The venipuncture practices for children may also differ, mostly for the comfort and safety of the infant or child. There is really nothing to fear with venipuncture, though, other than a momentary sensation like a pinprick as the needle punctures the skin. They are so sharp that it literally takes a fraction of a second, and the pain is minimal. There should also be no fear about losing too much blood during a medical venipuncture, as the human body can give up to as much as a liquid pound of blood without serious consequences. With the wonders of modern science and the increasing education of trained phlebotomists, venipuncture and many other medical practices have become safe and harmless as can be.
The Process of Venipuncture
Venipuncture is performed on the inner elbow in most cases. Sometimes, however, the phlebotomist cannot locate a vein in this section of the patient's body, so they must turn to other parts of the arm or wrist or other parts of the body in rare cases. The phlebotomist performing venipuncture starts by tying a tourniquet around the arm, then the next step is to insert a sterile, unused needle through the skin and into the vein. If this process was successful, the blood will begin to be sucked up through the vacuum tube and into the test tube that will be sealed and labeled before sending off for testing. If the blood doesn't start flowing, though, the phlebotomist must look for another vein and start over.
In some cases, when the physician has ordered multiple tests for the same patient, the phlebotomist may have to use several vacuum tubes. They are each filled up, labeled and sent off for the separate tests. This should not require more than one venipuncture unless the first vein proved unsuccessful.
In some rare cases, syringes are used to extract blood, but this is usually not practiced unless really necessary. The venipuncture practices for children may also differ, mostly for the comfort and safety of the infant or child. There is really nothing to fear with venipuncture, though, other than a momentary sensation like a pinprick as the needle punctures the skin. They are so sharp that it literally takes a fraction of a second, and the pain is minimal. There should also be no fear about losing too much blood during a medical venipuncture, as the human body can give up to as much as a liquid pound of blood without serious consequences. With the wonders of modern science and the increasing education of trained phlebotomists, venipuncture and many other medical practices have become safe and harmless as can be.
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