Many hospitals have the policy that no central line will be used to
obtain blood samples for any coagulation studies. I would agree with
this when heparin is being used to flush any central line, including
PICCs. Several years ago, a study from NIH looked at this issue using
tunneled catheters. They found that to get good accurate results for
coags they had to withdraw and discard 25 ml of blood prior to the
sample. Wasting that much blood with each sample needed would result
in iatrogenic anemia and add the risk associated with blood
transfusions. So I would never use any central line for these studies
and always require a separate stick. I would also check into using a
point-of-care testing machine so thay all you need do is a finger
stick. Lynn
At 5:42 PM -0800 2/3/06, Nancy Sullivan wrote:
We have been told that we can no longer draw PT's or APTT's from our
picc lines because the heparin flushes cause inaccurate readings.
Our policy was flush with 10cc saline, withdraw 10cc discard and
then draw needed labs. So now we are sticking patients to draw for
coags. I'm thinking what good is the picc if you can't draw the
needed labs. Can anyone set me straight in this matter.
Thanks
Nancy
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Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RNC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
http://www.hadawayassociates.com
office 770-358-7861
