There is some lack of clarity in our policy for drawing blood cultures from central venous access devices.
Policy states that the only difference between blood samples and cultures from CVADS is that you don't waste any blood when drawing cultures & cultures are drawn before any other blood work. We are concerned about flushing with saline before drawing a culture.
We know that with groshongs and ports this is unavoidable, but shouldn't you try and draw without flushing first?
Blood cultures taken from a CVAD should be either drawn directly from the catheter hub after removal of the used needleless connector or thru a new needleless connector that has just been put on. The initial sample drawn should be sent to lab without wasting anything. No flushing should be done. I am not sure what you are saying about valved catheters and implanted ports. The first draw should be what is sent for culture from all types of CVADs. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Lynn it has been our experience that it is very difficult if not impossible to get blood back from a valved Cather without first flushing it a bit to open the valve. With ports you always prime the needle first so there is always saline present and also difficult to get a blood return without first flushing with a bit of saline first. All protocols and policies even from ins are unclear on this issue.
Lab standards say do not discard, but sent the first drawn sample. Can't find the reference quickly but you can search this site because it has been posted in previous messages about this issue. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861