Accuracy of drawing blood through infusing intravenous lines

Objective: To determine the usefulness of peripheral intravenous lines as an alternative route for obtaining blood samples. Design: Quasiexperimental. Setting: Wilford Hall Medical Center, a regional level I trauma center and military teaching hospital in San Antonio, Tex. Sample: A convenience sample of 64 subjects was enrolled between September 1997 and June 1998. Outcome Measures: Comparative analysis of a complete blood count and chemistry, using the patients as their own control, on the same Coulter Analyzer and Boelrringer Mannheim/Hitachi 747-200. Results: A total of 559 values were evaluated. Only 2.5% of the specimens exceeded the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act standards. None of the values was clinically significant. Conclusion: Intravenous devices, if used properly, are reliable tools for blood specimen collection. They yield accurate analyte levels that may used in the treatment of patients. (Heart Lung® 2001;30:66-73.)