- [Narrator] Blood gas sample collection
and proper handling.
This is an instructional video
about how to collect a blood gas sample
from the radial artery using a syringe.
Follow your local hospital procedures
to prepare the patient and collection site
for obtaining the blood sample.
These are the collection sites:
radial, brachial, and femoral sites.
Blood gas analysis is performed
to test vitals in critically ill patients.
Blood gas analysis gives information on gases
and may also include electrolytes, metabolites,
total hemoglobin, CO-oximetry, and neonatal bilirubin.
Please ensure you have all the materials you need
to draw a patient's sample.
This includes a syringe, typically with a safety needle,
a filter cap, an alcohol wipe, gauze, and bandage.
The syringe used for blood gas analysis
should include dry, electrolyte-balanced lithium heparin
as the preferred anticoagulant in a concentration
of approximately 23 international units per mililiter.
Before performing the arterial draw,
confirm the patient's identity.
Check for adequate circulation
by performing a modified Allen's test if possible.
Locate the radial artery.
Clean the site.
Do not use skin cleaning wipe
that contains quaternary ammonium substance
such as benzalkonium, as it
may affect the electrolyte parameters reported,
particularly sodium.
Let it dry.
Preset the syringe plunger to the desired sample volume.
Using your index and middle fingers,
identify the path of the artery.
Hold the syringe like a pencil with the bevel visible.
Flex the wrist slightly if need be
by resting the lower arm on the edge of a bed
or using a small, rolled-up gauze or towel under the wrist.
Puncture the skin at a 45-degree angle,
making sure the needle follows the path of the artery.
Stop insertion when you see the blood flash,
or flow of blood, in the syringe.
Hold the syringe in place
until the desired blood volume is collected.
Withdraw the needle and apply pressure
to the puncture site with gauze
until blood flow at the puncture site has stopped.
Close the safety needle with one hand,
and discard the needle as per hospital's procedure.
Place the filter cap on the syringe lower tip
and hold the syringe vertically and gently tap the syringe
so that air bubbles are forced to the top.
Expel any air bubbles into the filter cap.
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 syringe.
Label the syringe with the patient ID
and immediately transport the sample
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 syringe
between your hands about 10 times.
Remove the cap from the syringe
and expel the first few drops of blood into a gauze pad.
Present the sample to the analyzer and start analysis.
Recognize that a sample containing blood clots
should not be used on the blood gas analyzer because it
can affect not only the accuracy of the patient results
but also negatively impact the operation
of the blood gas analyzer.
The patient's blood gas results
will be ready within 60 seconds.
Remove the syringe from the analyzer
and reattach the filter cap.
If you need to repeat the test,
debubble and remix the sample prior to analysis.
According to the CLSI Guidelines,
blood gas testing should be completed within 10 minutes
and not longer than 30 minutes after drawing the sample.
Dispose of the syringe according to the hospital guidelines.
Proper sample handling, mixing, and time to analysis helps
to ensure accurate patient results.