I am curious - how many are using the mixing method for central line blood draws instead of the discard method? How long have you been doing it, and with what results? Thank you..
I am not sure what the "mixing method" is. I stop (and clamp) any infusions and pulsatile flush with 10cc of normal saline. After waiting at least one full minute, I then draw back on syringe my discard --followed by drawing specimens with a vacutainer adapter.
The mixing method for taking a blood sample from a CVC avoids the need for a discard volume, avoiding the risk of depleting the patients blood volume. This can be a huge problem in critical patients when many samples are required. The procedure calls for flushing the catheter with 10 mls NS (so-called pulsatile method is controversial and I don't teach it because there is no science to support it). Leave this syringe attached and withdraw 6-8 ml blood into the syringe and reinject it. Repeat this aspiration and injection process for a total of 4 times. Never disconnect this syringe during the process. After the final time, detach this empty syringe, attach a new empty syringe, and aspirate your sample. Then flush with 10-20 ml NS. Lynn
Susan Fullana-
I am not sure what the "mixing method" is. I stop (and clamp) any infusions and pulsatile flush with 10cc of normal saline. After waiting at least one full minute, I then draw back on syringe my discard --followed by drawing specimens with a vacutainer adapter.
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Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861