Abstract
ObjectivesBlood collections from peripheral intravenous catheters offer several benefits to patients, including reduced needle punctures and patient discomfort, but they risk reducing the quality of blood specimens analyzed by the laboratory. In an effort to balance analytical quality of test results with patient-centered care initiatives, a needle-less blood collection device called PIVO™ was evaluated at two institutions. The primary objective of this study was to assess the ability of the PIVO™ device to provide high-quality blood specimens for laboratory testing compared to current blood collection methods. MethodsBlood specimens drawn using the PIVO™ device were prospectively flagged. A retrospective review was performed comparing the degree and rate of hemolysis for PIVO™ blood collections to both concurrent and historical hemolysis rates for other collection methods. ResultsApproximately 7600 PIVO™ blood draws were performed across the two institutions. The hemolysis rates of samples collected with PIVO™ were evaluated using 2380 flagged collections, containing approximately 1200 test orders requiring hemolysis index measurements. The hemolysis rate of PIVO™-flagged samples (1.8%) was statistically superior to the venipuncture and central line blood collection methods (3.3%), reducing the risk of hemolysis during a venous blood draw by 39%. ConclusionsPIVO™ collections facilitated improvement in the rate and degree of sample hemolysis when compared to venipuncture and central line blood collections. These findings suggest that PIVO™ is capable of delivering samples that are superior to current blood collection methods in terms of hemolysis rate as well as reducing the number of invasive venipunctures required for laboratory testing.
Highlights
Hemolysis, defined as the breakdown of red blood cells and the release of hemoglobin and intracellular contents into the plasma, is a frequent occurrence in blood samples submitted to clinical laboratories for testing
The PIVOTM device was evaluated at DRMC and UHCMC because it offered an opportunity to improve the patient experience without the loss of sample integrity common to peripheral IV collections
The hemolysis rates of samples collected with PIVOTM were measured using the 2380 flagged collections which contained approximately 1200 samples with a reported hemolysis index
Summary
Hemolysis, defined as the breakdown of red blood cells and the release of hemoglobin and intracellular contents into the plasma, is a frequent occurrence in blood samples submitted to clinical laboratories for testing. The estimated prevalence of hemolyzed specimens is approximately 3% of routine samples and they make up approximately 60% of specimens classified as unsuitable for analysis [1]. There are several laboratory tests that can be impacted by hemolysis with varying levels of interference observed based on the degree of hemolysis and the specificity of the method being used. The risks associated with analyzing hemolyzed specimens have been recognized and efforts made toward creating more robust assays and facilitating consistent high quality specimen collections
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
