We have always drew blood from our piccs and central lines using a 10 cc syringe and then transfering to blood tubes using a blood transfer device from lab ( a female transfer device)
 Now for some reason corporate has switched to "male"  adapters. This means if we draw blood from our line in a syringe , our syringe does not attach to the adapter for transfer. They want us to use the male transfer device that hooks directly to the lines cap ( or straight to the line)  and then we are to hook the appropriate tubes to the device for blood removal.  I havent got to try it yet.
Some of the staff questioned the sterility or aseptic technique in this. We always use sterile wrapped syringes to draw from the line, the blood transfer device is sterile and individually wrapped however, then the blood tubes that we "snap" into the device are not.  they are kept loose and not wrapped. What is everyone elses protocol on this?
Is there any problems with using this "vacutainer" style device on piccs.  We use Bard Groshong single or dual lumens and then Bards Solo Power Picc.
 Thanks for your response, Gina Ward R.N, CPANÂ
What is the difference between attached these vacuum tubes and a regular IV tubing that is also ONLY sterile in the fluid pathway and the male luer end covered by a cap? It is very early in the morning but I don't see a problem with attaching these vacuum tubes.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
www.hadawayassociates.com
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
Gina Ward R.N., C.P.A.N
I.V. fluid is capped, and the tip that inserts into the picc line is kept sterile ( that is their goal anyway), the blood tubes have that rubber cover that is penetrated by the spike in the transfer device and this is not ever covered to keep clean and not wiped off.
We ( I and colleagues) may be reading too much into this; maybe on the other side of the transfer device where the tube connects to the spike doesnt even have access to the patient .(I am just thinking sterile pathway.
Thank you, Gina Ward R.N., CPAN
Gina Ward R.N., VA-BC