Disposable blood lancets are widely used in hospitals, laboratories, and clinical diagnostic centers. To ensure safe and effective venous blood collection, healthcare professionals must follow proper handling procedures. Below are the essential precautions to observe when using a disposable blood lancet during blood sampling.
1. Check the Package Before Use
Before opening a box of disposable blood lancets, always check the product’s expiration date. Expired or damaged packages must be discarded immediately. Any compromised sterile packaging increases the risk of contamination and should not be used for clinical procedures.
2. Prepare the Lancet Before Puncture
After opening the sterile package, hold both ends of the lancet tubing and gently stretch it to remove its natural coil. Reason: The soft tubing is coiled inside the packaging. Its elasticity may cause the needle to rebound or slip out of the vein during blood collection. In severe cases, it may even bounce back and puncture the operator’s hand, causing occupational exposure. Stretching the tubing in advance helps eliminate elasticity and ensures safer operation.
3. Special Handling for Coagulation and ESR Tubes
When collecting the first tube and it is a blue-top coagulation tube or black-top ESR tube, let the blood flow naturally through the tubing before inserting the lancet tail into the vacutainer stopper.
Reason: These tubes have relatively low vacuum. If the air inside the tubing (approximately 0.3–0.4 mL) is not displaced before insertion, the collected blood volume may fall below the required fill line, affecting test accuracy.
4. Proper Technique for Inserting the Lancet Into the Tube Stopper
Hold the tail end of the lancet using the thumb, index, and middle fingers at a 45° angle to the stopper. Use the middle finger as a support point and rotate the hand so the needle enters the stopper vertically. This technique reduces slipping, preventing accidental puncture of the operator’s hand.
5. Stabilize the Blood Collection Tube During Sampling
When drawing blood, keep the collection tube supported on the work surface rather than holding it in the air. This prevents unintentional pulling of the needle from the patient’s vein.
6. Handling Issues Such as Poor Blood Flow
If blood flow becomes slow, adjust the needle position slightly—rotate it or retract it a bit—while ensuring the vein puncture remains effective. Small adjustments can restore smooth blood flow.
7. Managing Residual Blood in the Tubing
After the vacutainer's negative pressure is exhausted, blood remaining inside the tubing may drip and contaminate the work area. To avoid this, release the tourniquet, remove the needle from the vein, and then separate the lancet from the tube, allowing all remaining blood to flow into the collection tube.
8. Proper Disposal of Used Lancets
After sampling, all used disposable blood lancets must be discarded directly into a certified sharps container. This step is crucial for preventing cross-infection and maintaining phlebotomy safety standards.
Following correct blood sampling procedures and adhering to phlebotomy safety precautions is essential to protect both patients and healthcare workers. Proper use of disposable blood lancets not only ensures accurate test results but also significantly reduces the risk of occupational exposure and contamination.
