PowerPoint® to accompany
Medical Assisting
Chapter 48
Second Edition
Ramutkowski Booth Pugh Thompson Whicker
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display.
1
Collecting, Processing and
Testing Blood Specimens
Objectives
481 Discuss the composition and function of blood.
482 Describe the process for collecting a blood
specimen.
483 Explain the importance of confirming patients'
identities and correctly identifying blood
samples.
484 Describe how to perform venipuncture and
capillary puncture procedures.
485 Identify the equipment and supplies required
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for blood drawing procedures.
Collecting, Processing and
Testing Blood Specimens
Objectives (cont.)
486 Discuss the correct procedures for disposing of
waste generated during blooddrawing
procedures.
487 Discuss common fears and concerns of patients
and how to ease these fears.
489 Identify common blood tests and explain their
purposes.
4810 Perform certain blood tests.
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Introduction
You will be responsible You will be introduced
for collecting blood
to venipuncture and
specimens and doing
capillary collection
some testing in the
procedures.
waived category.
You will also learn techniques for dealing with difficult types
of patients and how to efficiently and effectively obtain blood
samples.
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Role of the Medical Assistant
Examination of blood
can provide extensive
information about a
patient’s condition.
Basic understanding
of the anatomy and
physiology of the
circulatory system
will help you perform
these tasks.
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Functions of Blood
Heart pumps 8 to 12
pints of blood
through more than
70,000 miles of veins,
arteries, and
capillaries.
Hematology – the
Hematology
study of blood
Hematologists – study
its function and
composition
Blood has many functions, all of which are
important to overall health of the body.
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Functions of Blood (cont.)
Blood does all the following:
Distributes oxygen, nutrients, and
hormones to body cells
Eliminates waste products
Maintains acidbase balance
Regulates body temperature
Attacks infecting pathogens
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Composition of Blood
Plasma – liquid in which other components
Plasma
are suspended
Red blood cells (erythrocytes) – vital role in
Red blood cells (erythrocytes)
internal respiration
White blood cells (leukocytes) – protect the
White blood cells (leukocytes)
body against infection
Platelets (thrombocytes) – crucial to clot
Platelets (thrombocytes)
formation
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Apply Your Knowledge
What are three functions of blood?
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Apply Your Knowledge Answer
What are three functions of blood?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Distributes oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to
body cells
Eliminates waste products
Maintains acidbase balance
Regulates body temperature
Attacks infecting pathogens
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Collecting Blood Specimens
Reading and interpreting the test order
Assembling the equipment and supplies
Preparing the patient
Greeting and identifying the patient
Confirming pretest preparations
Explaining the procedure and safety precautions
Establishing chain of custody
Handling exposure incident
11
Identifying the Patient
Ask patient to state
their full name.
Be sure you hear
both the first and
last names
correctly.
Verify that the
name the patient
gives is the name
on the order.
Some places, the
phlebotomist may
ask for social
security, patient
ID, or chart
number to further
identify the
patient.
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Drawing Blood
Some states permit
medical assistants to
obtain blood samples.
Your office will clarify
your duties
Venipuncture – puncture
of a vein
Phlebotomy – puncturing
a vein with a needle to
collect blood into a needle
or tube
Common Sites for
Venipuncture
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Venipuncture Equipment
Evacuation system (VACUTAINER) –special
Evacuation system (VACUTAINER)
doublepointed needle, needle holder, and collection
tubes
Needle and syringe system – use a sterile needle
Needle and syringe system
and a syringe to draw blood specimen
Butterfly system – winged infusion set and syringe
Butterfly system
Collection tubes – must mix blood with appropriate
Collection tubes –
sample containers
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VACUTAINER
The VACUTAINER
system uses
interchangeable
collection tubes that
allow you to draw
several blood
specimens from the
same venipuncture site.
15
Capillary Puncture
Superficial puncture
of skin with sharp
point to draw small
amount of blood.
Collected in small,
calibrated glass
tubes, slides, or
reagent strips.
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Patient Needs
Alleviate patients fears or concerns
Provide more information about:
Pain
Bruises or scars
Serious diagnosis
Contracting a disease from procedure
17
Special Considerations
Children:
Talk with patient or caregivers before
working with child
Address them directly
Speak calmly in soothing voice
Explain the procedure briefly in terms they
can understand
Keep child informed of status of procedure
18
Special Considerations (cont.)
Elderly Patients:
Changes in skin conditions make
elderly patients prone to bruising
Decreased circulation makes it
difficult to collect enough blood
Speak in clear, lowpitched tone
Give the patient time to respond to
questions
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Special Considerations (cont.)
Patients at risk of uncontrolled bleeding
such as hemophilia or taking blood
thinning drugs
Be careful and alert
Hold cotton ball over the puncture site for
at least 5 minutes
Notify physician if bleeding is
uncontrollable
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Special Considerations (cont.)
Difficult
venipuncture:
Try a second
time and then
give the patient
a rest
Fainting patient:
Position before
venipuncture so
no injury will
occur
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Special Considerations (cont.)
Angry or violent
patients:
Encourage patient to
submit to test and then
talk with doctor
Do not force the issue
Patient has the right to
refuse
22
Apply Your Knowledge
What is one precaution you can take
when drawing blood from a patient who
had hemophilia?
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Apply Your Knowledge Answer
What is one precaution you can take
when drawing blood from a patient who
had hemophilia?
Hold cotton ball over the puncture site for at least
5 minutes
Be careful and alert
Notify physician if bleeding is uncontrollable
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Performing Common
Blood Tests
Results can aid in the
diagnosis of specific
conditions, disease,
and disorders
Chemicals in lab:
Anticoagulants
Serum separators
Stains
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