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 My answer is based on my assumption that you are asking about changing the IV administration sets and not the actual catheter itself or the dressing. Think about the packaging for the IV sets and you will answer your own question. These IV sets are only sterile in the fluid pathway and the 2 ends under the caps. The outside of the set, the part that is being handled is not sterile, so clean gloves can be used. After removal of the end caps covering the spike and the male luer end, extreme care must be taken to not contaminate those. Many times I see nurses removing the spike cover, then removing the covering from the bag where the spike will go. This requires some tugging to remove this cover and the hand with the exposed spike can easily be contaminated while it is in the hand of the nurse. So I would uncover these ends immediately before you are ready to connect them. On the opposite end, the catheter hub can easily be contaminated with dried blood, drug precipitate, and other debris. So cleaning the catheter hub is a good idea, although it is not support by good research as to how this should be done. the concern is pushing debris into the lumen. As long as the staff is very careful with these sterile ends when connecting, I don't see that sterile gloves for the procedure will bring any benefit since the outside of the IV set is not sterile and the outside of the catheter hub is no longer sterile either. Lynn

I have always been taught [operating room nurse] to remove the female end first of any connection, then the male, to reduce the chances of contaminating the spike/protuding part.

And I dont wear gloves so that if there is a slip, when using ANTT there is a better chance of feeling that the spike has touched something, and it can be discarded. By handling the bag, the gloves are NOT sterile, so its a grey area then.

To reduce the chance of over shooting the connecting of the two parts I also put my wrists/forearms together then that stabilises the hands and the point meets the plughole  like a bullseye.

Only time I would wear sterile gloves if having to care for both an infected barrier patient and a non infected..  so that the chances of being a nosocomial carrier despite  several handwashes inbetween, are really reduced.BUT consider them a second skin, not sterile!

Hi Karen,

I would love to help answer your question; however, could you clarify what you mean by "aseptic non-touch technique for accessing and changing CVAD lines for PN?" I am with Lynn, in that I am not sure what you are referring to changing/exchanging the CVAD line itself? or Dressing? or IV tubing? In our acute care setting, nurses are to use clean gloves, since the outer IV tubing, PN bag are all non-sterile, we use aseptic technique. I don't see how you would get around working with a pt.'s PN without "touching" the supplies. For dressing changes to the CVAD, we use STERILE technique and therefore, REQUIRE sterile gloves and mask. Not sure if that helps...?