Evaluation of an improved small gauge needle for venipuncture in children with difficult venous access: Impact on sample quality, phlebotomist satisfaction and patient pain perception

• Published in: Clinica chimica acta Vol. 500; pp. 213 - 219
• Main Authors: Padoan, Andrea, Sirini, Sara, Mazzone, Raffaella, Mesiti, Cristina, Grillo, Caterina, Meyer, Brendan, Plebani, Mario
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.01.2020
• Subjects: 25 Gauge needle; Blood collection device; Children; Difficult venous access; Hemolysis; Pain; Hemolysis; Blood collection device; Difficult venous access; Pain; Children; 25 Gauge needle
• ISSN: 0009-8981; 1873-3492; 1873-3492
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2019.10.019

•BD UltraTouch Push Button and Safety-Lok Blood Collection Sets were compared in children.•Degree of hemolysis was not significantly associated with blood collection sets.•Children pain score was significantly lower for UT-PBBCS compared to SLBCS.•Phlebotomist venipuncture difficulty was significantly reduced in UT-PBBCS. Smaller needles gauge (G) may reduce pain and improve vein access in difficult venous access (DVA). Aims were to compare the performances of two Beckton-Dickinson (BD) Vacutainer® Blood Collection Sets in a pediatric setting: UltraTouch™ Push Button (UT-PBBCS) and Safety-Lok™ (SLBCS). Questionnaires were used to record venipuncture features, patient pain perception and phlebotomist difficulty score. Specimen quality was evaluated by hemolysis index (HI) on Roche Cobas® 6000. SLBCS (21/23G) or UT-PBBCS (23/25G) were used in 211 (50.2%) and 209 (49.8%) subjects. Pain was associated with age (p < 0.0001) and was lower in UT-PBBCS (p = 0.0339). Difficulty was significantly associated with age (p = 0.002), not with needle gauge (p = 0.461) and it was 0.42 points lower in UT-PBBCS. HI was not associated with blood collection set (p = 0.385). UT-PBBCS globally performed better than SLBCS and could enhance phlebotomy and patient comfort, without affecting sample quality in pediatric patients with DVA.