Routine Blood Collections: NHA CPT Phlebotomy topic guide
Routine Blood Collections carries 28% of the NHA CPT Phlebotomy blueprint used in this course, the largest of its 5 weighted areas. It spans 9 concepts. The course teaches it in 1 study unit: Routine Blood Collections.
What Routine Blood Collections covers
- What is EDTA carryover and why is it clinically dangerous? — historical GP41
- What happens if a light-blue tube is not filled to its mark? — ICSH recommendations for collection of blood samples for coagulation testing
- When using a butterfly set with a light-blue coagulation tube as the first draw, what must be done first? — ICSH recommendations for collection of blood samples for coagulation testing
- What is the priority order for venipuncture site selection in the antecubital fossa? — Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
- How should a tourniquet be applied, and what is the maximum time it should remain in place? — Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
- At what angle and orientation should the needle be inserted for venipuncture? — Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
- What needle gauge is used for routine adult venipuncture, and what does a higher gauge number mean? — Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
- What are the 11 steps of the venipuncture procedure in order? — BD Vacutainer Push Button Blood Collection Set IFU
- What sites and situations are CONTRAINDICATED for venipuncture? — Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
Common mistakes in Routine Blood Collections
- Swapping lavender/green in the order of draw
- Putting gray before lavender
- Drawing blood cultures second instead of first
- Lavender tube = heparin (WRONG; lavender = EDTA)
- Light blue tube = EDTA (WRONG; light blue = sodium citrate)
- Gray tube = clot activator (WRONG; gray = sodium fluoride + potassium oxalate)
- Applying the venous order of draw to capillary fingerstick (WRONG; capillary differs — EDTA first)
- Needle insertion angle is 45° (WRONG; correct is 15–30°)
- Leaving tourniquet on until all tubes are filled (WRONG; release within 1 minute)
- Basilic vein should be selected first (WRONG; median cubital first)
Key terms for Routine Blood Collections
Order of draw · SST · EDTA · Sodium citrate · Heparin · SPS · ETS · Antecubital fossa · Hemoconcentration
How Routine Blood Collections connects to other areas
- What are the 11 steps of the venipuncture procedure in order? links to What is the two-identifier rule and why is room number NOT acceptable? — Patient Preparation
- How should a tourniquet be applied, and what is the maximum time it should remain in place? links to What causes hemolysis in a blood specimen, and which analytes are falsely elevated? — Processing
- How should a tourniquet be applied, and what is the maximum time it should remain in place? links to What are the correct immediate responses to syncope, hematoma, nerve injury, and petechiae during a draw? — Processing
- What are the 11 steps of the venipuncture procedure in order? links to When and where should specimen tubes be labeled after a blood draw? — Processing
- What is the manufacturer-supported venous order of draw for multi-tube venous blood collection? links to What are the key requirements for collecting blood cultures? — Special Collections
- What is the manufacturer-supported venous order of draw for multi-tube venous blood collection? links to How does the capillary order of draw DIFFER from the venous order of draw? — Special Collections
- What needle gauge is used for routine adult venipuncture, and what does a higher gauge number mean? links to What special considerations apply when collecting blood from pediatric and geriatric patients? — Special Collections
- What is the manufacturer-supported venous order of draw for multi-tube venous blood collection? links to Why is patient identification especially critical for blood bank / type & crossmatch specimens? — Special Collections
Official references for Routine Blood Collections
- CLSI: GP41
- Ruth McCall Phlebotomy Essentials
- historical: GP41
- ICSH recommendations for collection of blood samples for coagulation testing
- BD Vacutainer Push Button Blood Collection Set IFU
In the app this area comes with 21 memory cards and 42 module-quiz questions and is part of the free starting modules.