Have you gotten your blood drawn? I have! Actually, I have done it several times. I have even attempted to stick my own vein :D. That’s how comfortable I am with needles.
Getting your blood drawn is very safe. Every year, millions of people all over the world do blood tests, from new born babies to the elderly. In fact, every day millions of people are sent to the laboratory for blood tests. It is the number one way of getting laboratory tests done. It is safe!
So far, having a needle inserted into a vein is the only way of getting blood drawn. Maybe in the future another way could be discovered but for now it’s needles.
The Process Of Drawing Blood
When I draw blood for a person, this is what I do: Using a tourniquet, I tie it around their arm about 3-4 inches above the insertion site, if I am using the arm or about 2 inches above the wrist, if I am doing the back of the hand.
Then, I select a good vein that is visible or a good one I can feel with my finger. Using an alcohol pad, I clean the insertion site. I let the alcohol air dry while I set up my equipment.
When about 30 seconds have passed, I hold the person’s arm with my left hand and using my thump, I pull back on the skin to anchor the vein. With my right hand, I insert the needle into the vein. Then, I fill the number of collection tubes that are needed.
While the tube is filling I release the tourniquet. After all tubes have been filled, I remove the needle and apply a cotton ball to the puncture site. I write the person’s name on the tubes and once the bleeding has stopped, I put a bandage on the puncture site.
And, that’s it! That’s the process of a blood draw for you. It is that short and simple.
What Is Used To Draw Blood?
Below are some of the main tools used when blood is drawn. Each of the items is very safe. Each is single-use, clean, and once used, is discarded.
Tourniquets, bandages, and gloves are latex-free. The phlebotomist sanitizes or washes hands for each procedure. Then puts on clean gloves.
- Tourniquet: single-use, clean
- Needle: sterile, single-use
- Luer adapter: single-use, clean
- Syringe: single-use, clean
- Cotton ball: single-use, clean
- Bandage: packaged, clean, single-use
- Alcohol pad: single-use
- Gloves: single-use, clean
- Collection Tubes: single-use
Is Getting Blood Drawn Painful?
During blood draw, the tourniquet may be on your arm or wrist for one to two minutes. During that time you may feel like your arm or wrist is slightly numb as the tourniquet is tied tightly.
When the tourniquet is released, you may see markings on your arm or wrist. Over a few minutes or hours the markings will go away.
When the needle pierces the surface of the skin you may feel a sting or slight pain. While the needle is in the vein and blood is being drawn you may feel the insertion area slightly numb and like there is something in your arm.
After the tourniquet is released and the needle is removed your arm should return to feeling fine.
Complications After Blood Draw
In most cases, getting blood drawn is a short, quick, clean, safe and almost painless procedure. However, depending on a few factors bruising can occur at the site of the needle puncture.
Bruising occurs when blood leaks out of the punctured vein into the nearby tissues under the skin. It usually appears within 24 hours and may look like a small spot or a large bruise that is either purple, black, blue or a combination of those colors.
Typically, bruising happens if blood collection is difficult, if you move your arm while the needle is in the vein, if there is a lot of arm movement like when drawing blood from a baby or a child, if you are taking anti-clotting medicines, if you are an elderly person with weak veins, or if you don’t put pressure on the punctured vein for a minute or so.
Aesthetically, bruising is unsightly and is not dangerous and over a period of a few days or weeks, it will go away. Large bruises may become sore for a few days but again it is not dangerous. Put some ice on it. If you are concerned, contact the lab or clinic where you had your blood drawn.
Another complication that occurs which is very rare is infection at the puncture site. You would see it as developing redness and pain. It may occur if the punctured site wasn’t cleaned properly with alcohol, if the site was touched after cleaned or if the tip of the needle was touched. But again this is very rare.
Another rare complication is that of a short, sharp electric-shock type pain you may feel. It may result in you jerking your arm but this also is very rare.
You may have one of the sensory nerves of the arm running across the surface of the vein. Rarely, the needle will hit it on the way into the vein. This causes the electric-shock type pain. That may be all you feel but in some cases it may persist as a tingling type of pain for a week to a month as the nerve heals.
Skin irritation from tape or adhesive from a bandage may also occur. This is also a bit rare but will go away over time.
You may also feel a slight lightheadedness.
Finally, vomiting may happen. I have personally seen it with children. It is a bit rare among adults. The site of blood and the needle may create anxiety and nervousness in some people which can result in vomiting.
Tips For Getting Your Blood Drawn
Although, a few complications are possible, doing a blood test is very safe. Here are 7 things you can do to prepare and make the process smooth and more comfortable for yourself.
- Drink a lot of fluids before getting your blood drawn. Start a day or two before your blood draw. Drink up until you do the blood test. This will help in making your veins plump and easier to find.
- Breathe while your blood is being drawn. Don’t hold your breath when the needle is inserted. Doing so will make you feel worse. Continue to breathe naturally, taking a few deep breaths, until the procedure is done.
- Talk to the phlebotomist and be honest about any fear you have or any bad experience you had doing blood tests. They can walk you through what to expect and advise you on what to do.
- If seeing blood makes you nervous or you just don’t want to see the needle, look away. Look at the opposite side or close your eyes. Do something to distract you. Read, watch television or listen to music on your phone.
- Sit still! If you are moving and wiggling while the phlebotomist is trying to draw your blood, it’s very likely they may have to stick you more than once to obtain the sample. So, even if you are nervous, sit still.
- If you find having your blood drawn is painful, ask the phlebotomist if there are methods he or she can use to reduce pain or discomfort. For example, some labs or clinics will use numbing creams or lidocaine injections before drawing blood. It acts by numbing the area minimizing discomfort.
- Use buzzy, a small vibrating device that can be placed near the insertion area that will help reduce pain or discomfort when the needle is inserted into the vein.