Phlebotomist how-to
How to Perform a Routine Venipuncture
A routine venipuncture with an evacuated tube system is the core skill every phlebotomist must master.
A routine venipuncture with an evacuated tube system is the core skill every phlebotomist must master. In short: review; identify; apply, then complete the remaining steps below.
Step by step
Review the order, gather tubes in the correct order of draw and perform hand hygiene.
Identify the patient with two identifiers and confirm any fasting or timing requirements.
Apply the tourniquet 3–4 inches above the site, ask the patient to make a loose fist and palpate for a bouncy vein: the median cubital is usually first choice.
Put on gloves, clean the site with 70% isopropyl alcohol in a circular motion and let it air-dry.
Anchor the vein below the site, insert the needle bevel up at a 15–30 degree angle and push the first tube into the holder.
Release the tourniquet within one minute, fill and gently invert each tube, then remove the last tube before withdrawing the needle.
Activate the safety device, apply pressure with gauze, dispose of the needle in the sharps container and label tubes at the bedside.
Safety reminders for phlebotomists
- Follow OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and treat every sample as potentially infectious
- Use safety-engineered needles and dispose of sharps immediately
- Report needlestick injuries right away so post-exposure care can begin
- Label specimens at the bedside. Never pre-label tubes
Key terms
Venipuncture · Antecubital fossa · Order of draw · Evacuated tube · EDTA (lavender top) · Hemolysis: see the full phlebotomist glossary.