Small-volume Blood Collection Tubes

Small-volume blood collection tubes in the ICU may decrease red blood cell transfusions without affecting laboratory analysis.

This video from our Blood, Bleeding, and Transfusion issue explains how the change could have an impact if applied broadly.

[elaineg]

As someone who started as a phlebotomist at age 17, became a nurse, paramedic, microbiologist then med school..NOW, A Patient (a royal pain in the neck patient, but 🤷🏼‍♀️), this will be a game changer. While we’ve always had an option for smaller tubes; I improvised more than one with a micro tube + anticoagulant from a red tube. Things have changed SO much since I was in a lab; I don’t know what my daughter is talking about half the time. I’ve had idiopathic anemia and elevated platelets for a number of years. As someone who allowed herself to be a guinea pig for students for many years; and the past 10 years, it’s been one health crisis after another…I am NOT an easy stick. My preferred phlebotomist at our local community hospital is gone for 2 weeks and I was due last week. I told them to either give me tubes and butterflies to do it myself; or wait until tomorrow morning when my mini-me is here. 🥰