Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Emedinews:Insights on Medicolegal Issues:How is a blood sample collected in a medicolegal case?



Collection of a blood sample is said to be a surgical process and should only be performed by a qualified doctor in a hospital setup where at least primary medical facility is available because in many occasion the patient may develop medical complications and even loss of consciousness. Hence, it cannot be drawn in police station or court of law. 
  • The sample should be taken from the vein in the antecubital fossa.
  • Before blood collection, the subject should remove tight clothes that might constrict the upper arm.
  • The phlebotomist ties the tourniquet around the upper arm of the subject, searches the proper vein by inspecting and palpating and then sterilizes the injection site.
  • The vein can be anchored by placing the thumb about 2 cms below the vein and pulling gently to make the skin a little taut.
  • After that, the needle, beveled upward, should be pushed smoothly and quickly into the vein, to minimize the possibility of hemolysis as a result of vascular damage.
  • Immediately after the insertion, the tourniquet should be released to minimize the effect of hem concentration.

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