Vacuum Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.
These are the MediaLab courses that cover Vacuum and links to relevant pages within the course.
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| A process by which bacteria or other biological material are preserved through freeze drying under vacuum is termed: | View Page |
| Discussion Insufficient blood volume may cause erroneous test results, and specimen rejection. When blood flow stops, it can mean several things:The bevel of the needle may be pressed against the wall of the blood vessel. If this is the case, moving the needle slightly may cause blood to begin flowing again.The vein may have collapsed due to the vacuum of the tube. If moving the needle slightly does not re-establish blood flow, you will have to recollect the patient.The needle may have gone all the way through the vein. Pulling the needle back slightly may cause blood to resume flowing.
The tube you are using may have insufficient vacuum. Try another tube. Never vigorously probe the patient’s arm with a needle. At the first sign of discomfort the needle should be withdrawn. The patient may then be redrawn be yourself or another phlebotomist.Relevant topics: Insufficient volume, Partial collection tubes, What if no blood flows | View Page |
| Multiple draw needles Multiple draw needles are used with vacuum collection tubes.They allow the collection of blood into multiple vacuum collection tubes during a single venipuncture.
They have a retractable sheath over the portion of the needle that penetrates the blood tube.
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| Blood collection tubes: introduction A blood collection tube generally consists of a glass or plastic tube with a rubber stopper. It has a vacuum so that blood will flow into the tube.
Blood collection tubes may contain anticoagulants and/or other chemical additives.
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| Butterfly needles continued Butterfly needles may be used with a syringe or a holder and vacuum collection tube system.
They are usually 21, 23, or 25 gauge.
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| Syringe - Syringe blood collections Syringes may be used to collect blood from patients having small or delicate veins that might be collapsed by the vacuum of the evacuated tube system.Syringes may also be used to collect blood culture specimens. | View Page |
| Syringe - Transferring blood to collection tubes After collecting the blood specimen into a syringe, properly activate the appropriate safety device, and dispose of the needle in a sharps container.Attach the syringe to a blood transfer device by twisting the needle tip into the hub of the device.Push a vacuum blood collection tube into the holder of the transfer device, and let the tube fill to the appropriate level.
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| Insufficient volume Insufficient blood volume (short draws) within a collection tube containing anticoagulant will result in an incorrect ratio of blood to anticoagulant, and yield incorrect test results.Short draws can be caused by: A vein collapsing during phlebotomy.The needle coming out of the vein before the collection tube is full.Loss of collection tube vacuum before the tube is full. (Always keep extra tubes on hand.) | View Page |