Venipuncture
Overview
Venipuncture obtains venous blood for laboratory testing and diagnosis.
Equipment
- Vacutainer tubes — color-coded by test type
- Butterfly needles — for difficult veins
- Tourniquet — to distend veins
Order of Draw
| Order | Tube Color | Test |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Light blue | Coagulation |
| 2nd | Red/Gold | Chemistry |
| 3rd | Green | Plasma |
| 4th | Lavender | CBC |
Follow correct order to prevent cross-contamination.
Steps
- Verify patient identity
- Apply tourniquet
- Locate suitable vein
- Insert needle at 15-30 degrees
- Collect samples