Pre‐procedure

ActionRationale

1. 1.Show
   Introduce yourself to the patient, explain and discuss the procedure with them, and gain their consent to proceed. Check forms to ascertain sample bottles required and check patient's identity.
   To ensure that the patient feels at ease, understands the procedure and gives their valid consent (NMC [165], C). To ensure correct bottles are used and blood is taken from the correct patient (NPSA [166], C; RCN [211], C).

Procedure

1. 2.Show
   Wash hands with bactericidal soap and water or alcohol‐based handrub and allow to dry.
   To reduce the risk of cross‐infection (NHS England and NHSI [155], C)
2. 3.Show
   Prepare a tray or trolley and take it to the bedside. Clean hands as above. Open sterile pack and prepare equipment.
   To reduce the risk of contamination of contents (DH [46], C; RCN [203], C).
3. 4.Show
   If intravenous fluid infusion is in progress, switch it off.
   To prevent spillage of fluid following disconnection. E
4. 5.Show
   Where required, disconnect the administration set from the catheter and cover the end of the set with a sterile cap.
   To reduce the risk of contaminating the end of the administration set. E
5. 6.Show
   Clean hands with an alcohol‐based handrub and allow to dry.
   To minimize the risk of introducing infection into the catheter. To enable the disinfection process to be completed (DH 2007, C; RCN [203], C).
6. 7.Show
   Put on non‐sterile gloves.
   To prevent possible contamination of the practitioner (WHO [257], C).
7. 8.Show
   Clean the hub or needle‐free cap thoroughly with a 2% chlorhexidine in 70% alcohol swab. Allow to dry.
   To enable the disinfection process to be completed (DH 2007, C).
8. 9.Show
   Attach a 10 mL syringe to the needleless injection cap. Release the clamp and withdraw 5–10 mL of blood.
   To remove blood, heparin, drugs and intravenous fluids from the ‘dead space’ of the catheter. Samples from this dead space are likely to cause inaccuracies in blood tests (WHO [257], C).
9. 10.Show
   Clamp and remove the syringe and discard.
   To discard the contaminated sample and prevent mixing. E
10. 11.Show
    Attach a new syringe of appropriate size. Unclamp and withdraw the required amount of blood.
    To obtain the sample. E
11. 12.Show
    Clamp and detach the syringe.
    To prevent blood spillage or air entry. E
12. 13.Show
    Decant blood into the sample bottles following the draw order shown in Table 13.4.
    To ensure blood is placed into the sample bottles as soon as possible. E
13. 14.Show
    Flush with 10 mL 0.9% sodium chloride, using the push–pause method (i.e. 1 mL at a time).
    To create turbulence, ensure removal of all blood in the catheter and prevent occlusion (Goossens [71], C).
14. 15.Show
    Reconnect the administration set, unclamp the catheter and recommence infusion or attach a new needleless injection cap. Release the clamp and flush the catheter through the injection cap using the push–pause method and finishing with the positive pressure technique.
    To prevent the catheter clotting between uses (Dougherty [52], E; Goossens [71], C; Gorski et al. [74], E).

Post‐procedure

1. 16.Show
   Remove gloves and discard waste, making sure it is placed in the correct containers (e.g. sharps into a designated receptacle).
   To ensure correct clinical waste management and to reduce the risk of cross‐infection (DH [48], C).
2. 17.Show
   Ensure that blood samples have been placed in the correct containers and agitated as necessary to prevent clotting.
   To make certain that the specimens, correctly presented and identified, are delivered to the laboratory, enabling the requested tests to be performed and the results to be returned to the correct patient's records (NMC [165], C; RCN [211], C; WHO [260], C).
3. 18.Show
   Label the samples with the patient's name, number, date of birth, etc. at the patient's side and send them to the laboratory with the appropriate forms.
   To prevent mislabelling when away from the patient. To maintain accurate records and provide accurate information for laboratory analysis (NMC [165], C; Weston [255], E; WHO [260], C).
4. 19.Show
   Document the procedure in the patient's records.
   To ensure timely and accurate record keeping (NMC [165], C; WHO [260], C).