- Blood Gas Sample Collection and Proper Handling.
This is an instructional video
about how to collect a capillary blood gas sample.
Follow your local hospital procedures
to prepare the patient and collection site
for obtaining the blood sample.
Collecting arterialized capillary blood
may be an alternative to arterial blood collection,
particularly in infants.
The most typical site for capillary collection in infants
is the lateral or medial plantar surface of the heel,
however, the tip of the big toe, fingers and ear lobe
may also be used.
Blood gas analysis is performed to test vitals
in critically ill patients.
Blood gas analysis gives information on gasses
and may also include electrolytes, metabolites,
total hemoglobin, CO-oximetry and neonatal bilirubin.
In theory, blood gas values obtained from a capillary
draw approximately arterial values,
however, typically, the pO2 values obtained
with capillary samples may be lower.
Please ensure you have all the materials you need
to draw a patient's sample.
This includes a capillary tube,
the capillary caps, a lancet, an alcohol wipe,
gauze and bandage.
The capillary used for blood gas analysis
should include dry, electrolyte balanced lithium heparin
as the preferred anti-coagulant.
Before performing the capillary draw,
confirm the patient's identity.
To arterialize the puncture site,
warm the skin to a temperature of approximately
42 degrees celsius.
Clean the puncture site.
Do not use a skin cleaning wipe that contains
quaternary ammonium substance such as benzalkonium
as it may affect the electrolyte perimeters reported,
particularly sodium.
Let it dry.
Puncture the skin with a disposable lancet
to a depth no greater than 2.0mm.
Wipe away the first droplet of blood.
Place the tip of the capillary sampling device
in the center of the blood droplet and allow to fill
the capillary as rapidly as possible without air bubbles.
Fill the capillary tube completely with blood
that contains no air bubbles.
Seal both ends of the capillary with the capillary caps,
apply pressure to the collection site
and bandage the heel.
Mix the sample thoroughly by rotating your wrist
back and forth for a minimum of 20 seconds,
this helps to dissolve the heparin
and minimize clot formation in the capillary.
Label the capillary with the patient ID
and immediately transport the capillary
to a Siemens Healthineers Blood Gas System.
Follow a two-step mixing process,
first by rotating your wrist back and forth
and then rolling the capillary between your fingers
about 10 times.
Remove the caps from the capillary.
Do not expel any blood onto a gauze pad
to ensure sufficient sample volume for analysis.
Present the capillary sample to the analyzer
and start analysis.
Recognize that a sample containing blood clots
should not be used on the blood gas analyser
because it could affect not only the accuracy
of the patient results,
but also negatively impact the operation
of the blood gas analyser.
The patient's blood gas results will be ready
within 60 seconds.
According to the CSLI guidelines,
blood gas testing should be completed within 10 minutes
and not longer than 30 minutes after drawing the sample.
Remove the capillary from the analyser
and discard the capillary according to hospital guidelines.
Proper sample handling, mixing and time to analysis
helps to ensure accurate patient results.