Can you take blood from anywhere?

A blood test usually involves taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in your arm. The arm is a convenient part of the body to use because it can be easily uncovered. The usual place for a sample to be taken from is the inside of the elbow or wrist, where the veins are relatively close to the surface.

Why can’t you draw blood above an IV site?

Blood that is drawn from a vein that has an intravenous (IV) line may be diluted by the IV fluid. This can ultimately affect the accuracy of the blood test results. Therefore, an arm containing an IV should not be used to draw blood specimens if it can be avoided.

Why do doctors have to take blood from veins?

A blood draw is needed for many different types of tests that your doctor, school, or work may require. They can provide information on your immunity levels, if you have a disease or a diseases progress, and the level of certain things in your blood.

Where can you not draw blood?

Avoid Puncturing These Areas

• Edematous sites (swollen sites filled with serous fluid)
• Scarred or burned areas.
• Fistulas and grafts.
• Hematomas.
• From an IV cannula (unless permitted by your institution)
• Sites above an IV cannula in the same vessel.
• Arm with PICC line.
• Arm with a preexisting or current blood clot.

Can blood be drawn from hand?

To get blood drawn, you’ll sit in a chair or lie down. The person who takes the blood will ask you to make a fist with your hand. Then they’ll tie a band, called a tourniquet, around your upper arm. This makes your veins pop out a little more, which will make it easier to insert the needle in the right place.

Which are the sites for blood taken?

Relevant Anatomy. The median cubital and cephalic veins are preferred for blood sampling, but other arm and hand veins may be used. The cephalic vein is located on the lateral (radial) side of the arm, and the basilic vein is located on the medial (ulnar) side.

Can I draw blood from an IV site?

A. Blood samples should NOT be drawn during IV starts or from established IV catheters except for patients on thrombolytics (to reduce number of sticks), or in an emergency. B. Peripheral lab samples should be obtained using a straight needle and either the Vacutainer or syringe method.

Can you take blood from cannula?

Guidelines recommend blood samples from peripheral intravenous cannula be taken only on insertion. Anecdotal evidence suggests drawing blood from existing cannulas may be a common practice.

Why is blood drawn from a vein and not an artery?

Veins are favored over arteries because they have thinner walls, and thus they are easier to pierce. There is also lower blood pressure in veins so that bleeding can be stopped more quickly and easily than with arterial puncture.

Can blood be drawn from hands?

Where do you draw blood in your arm?

The median antecubital vein is the most common for blood draws. It is in the inner arm, anterior of the elbow joint. This vein is associated with minimal pain and is the most prominent when anchored. Located on the lateral portion of the arm, the cephalic vein is the second most common draw site choice.

Why can’t you draw blood anywhere but the elbow?

That being said, there is no reason you couldn’t draw blood anywhere that the veins are close to the surface, like the foot or the back of the knee. Sometimes they will draw blood or start an IV on the forearm instead of the crook of the elbow.

Where can you draw blood from?

Hope that covers it. You can draw blood from anyplace where the blood is. We usually draw it from a vein that we can see or an artery that we can feel. If you know where a larger vein is you can draw it from there, ie. blood vessels to the arms or legs.

Why are my veins so hard to draw blood?

Very elderly people often have this problem. Obesity can sometimes make veins difficult to access, too, because of excess fat tissue obscuring them. There’s one other factor: the person starting the IV or drawing the blood sometimes just has a bad day.

Can you draw blood in your neck?

You can draw blood anywhere there’s a vein. We once stared an IV in a foot. But in an emergency situation if all the veins are blown or just can’t be stuck we’l go for the e.j. (external jugular), that’s the large vein in your neck that bulges out when your mad or breathing extra hard.