OBJECTIVE: Establish whether hemolysis in samples collected from intravenous lines is influenced by catheterization site. METHODS: Blood was collected from all patients (67 total) admitted to the emergency department the same morning, through a 20-gauge catheter placed in a vein of the upper limb directly into an evacuated blood tube. Serum was tested for hemolysis index by multi-wavelength photometric readings. RESULTS: The frequency of hemolyzed specimens was 30% (20/67). Hemolysis rate in median cephalic and basilic veins (17%) was comparable to that of median anterobrachial vein but lower than cephalic vein (29%; P = 0.01), basilic vein (33%; P < 0.01), and metacarpal plexus veins (75%; P < 0.01). Compared with median basilic and cephalic veins, the relative risk of hemolysis was 1.4 from median anterobrachial vein, 1.6 from cephalic vein, 1.9 from basilic vein, and 4.3 from metacarpal plexus veins. CONCLUSION: Drawing blood from catheters placed distally from median veins carries higher hemolysis risk.
OBJECTIVE: Establish whether hemolysis in samples collected from intravenous lines is influenced by catheterization site. METHODS: Blood was collected from all patients (67 total) admitted to the emergency department the same morning, through a 20-gauge catheter placed in a vein of the upper limb directly into an evacuated blood tube. Serum was tested for hemolysis index by multi-wavelength photometric readings. RESULTS: The frequency of hemolyzed specimens was 30% (20/67). Hemolysis rate in median cephalic and basilic veins (17%) was comparable to that of median anterobrachial vein but lower than cephalic vein (29%; P = 0.01), basilic vein (33%; P < 0.01), and metacarpal plexus veins (75%; P < 0.01). Compared with median basilic and cephalic veins, the relative risk of hemolysis was 1.4 from median anterobrachial vein, 1.6 from cephalic vein, 1.9 from basilic vein, and 4.3 from metacarpal plexus veins. CONCLUSION: Drawing blood from catheters placed distally from median veins carries higher hemolysis risk.
Authors: Massimo Daves; Roberto Cemin; Elmar M Zagler; Alexandra Joos; Stefan Platzgummer; Rudolf Hueber; Giuseppe Lippi Journal: Blood Transfus Date: 2016-01-19 Impact factor: 3.443
Authors: Euan J McCaughey; Elia Vecellio; Rebecca Lake; Ling Li; Leslie Burnett; Douglas Chesher; Stephen Braye; Mark Mackay; Stephanie Gay; Tony C Badrick; Johanna I Westbrook; Andrew Georgiou Journal: Clin Biochem Rev Date: 2016-12
Authors: Gabriel Lima-Oliveira; Giuseppe Lippi; Gian Luca Salvagno; Geraldo Picheth; Gian Cesare Guidi Journal: J Med Biochem Date: 2015-07-14 Impact factor: 3.402