another interesting tidbit about getting blood drawn

poet_kelly
on 4/22/12 5:42 pm - OH

I found two different sources that stated that, when they apply the tourniquet to draw blood, it should not be left in place for more than one minute. Leaving it in place for longer than that can apparently affect the results of some blood tests. For instance, it can make your protein level or iron level appear higher than it really is. I'm not sure how it has this effect. Maybe it has to do with how the blood clots or something? Anyway, apparently it's important.

Which is news to me. And important for all of us, I think, because we get so many labs done that if they leave that tourniquet on until the get to the last tube of blood, it's on for much longer than one minute. I will be asking the phlebotomist about this Tuesday.

And I am hoping this was not the reason my protein and iron levels looked so good last time I had labs done!

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

atennessen
on 4/23/12 12:19 am - TN

RNY on 04/03/12

That is correct Kelly...I am a medical technologist, and we were taught to place the tourniquet...find the vein...stick the needle in and put the first tube on the release the tourniquet, changing the tubes when they are full....but in cases where there is a lot of blood to be drawn (like bariatric patients and those with chronic conditions) you have to leave the tourniquet on a little longer than a minute just so that you have enough pressure in the vein to get all of the tubes full...other wise the vein will clot off and you will risk having to stick the patient again.

Anita

A new beginning!

Mary B.
on 4/23/12 12:23 am - Southern, MD

Revision on 01/24/11

Thats pretty interesting. I just had labs drawn on Friday. When I sat down I rolled up my sleeves as usual so she could look around. I said I have difficult veins (they used to be great) She said I didnt, they were fine and that most people go by sight, not by feel. She did a great job.

I said I have alot of problems giving blood. I buise easily and sometimes get a big, painful, baseball sized knot. She said for me to appyly more pressure to my puncture area and to hold it until I get to the car. I did, and I dont have a bruise or sore spot at all.

Also, I forgot to ask, but one of my vials she put on dry ice. Any ideas what that is for? I had a much longer list of labs this time that I got from my nut.

Banded Feb 23, 2009 / Revision to RNY Aug 25, 2010

Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version
on 4/23/12 1:58 am - OH

RNY on 08/27/07

Once she gets the first tube of blood, the woman who draws my blood releases the tourniquet. Doesn't your arm start to hurt if they leave it on until they darw 12+ vials?!? I have had it drawn other places in the past where they drew a couple of vials and left it on until they filled all of them, but that was for 2 or 3 vials not more than a dozen.

Lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

brown_eyed_girl_1981
on 4/23/12 3:11 am

RNY on 08/16/06

brown_eyed_girl_1981 has deleted this message.

poet_kelly
on 4/23/12 4:34 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

Of course it does.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

brown_eyed_girl_1981
on 4/23/12 3:09 am, edited 4/23/12 3:12 am

RNY on 08/16/06

Wow thank you for sharing this! On base here is the only place they left it on the whole time. Wondering if I should say something to them next time? They are also the ones who seem to have the hardest time finding my veins which are completely visable. I've always been told my veins are easy to find, that is until coming here!

another thing, they still havent drawn more than 6 vials for me. I even gave my pcm the list that Kelly shared quite a while back. I'm really irritated with this place. Sorry for the vent. Crossing my fingers my referall gets through very soon!

*edited to combine my posts so I could delete the other

♥Pam♥
RNY 8/16/06 Starting weight 262 / Current weight 152
ORIGINAL GOAL 160/ NEW GOAL 140

poet_kelly
on 4/23/12 4:34 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

I'm going to say something when I get mine drawn tomorrow.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

another interesting tidbit about getting blood drawn

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another interesting tidbit about getting blood drawn