Blood should not be drawn from arms with IVs

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Blood should not be drawn from arms with IVs

  • Blood drawn from veins with intravenous lines (IVs) may be diluted by the IV fluids. Arms containing IVs should therefore not be used to draw blood specimens.
  • If an arm with an IV line in place must be used for venipuncture, be sure to choose a site below the location of the IV, so that the specimen will not be diluted with IV fluids.