Product Focus-Specimen Collection

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standard GP41—Collection of Diagnostic Venous Blood Specimens provides a descriptive, stepwise process and procedures for diagnostic venous blood specimen collection. Special considerations for collections from vascular access devices, blood culture collection, and collections in isolation environments are included, as well as information on how to handle emergency situations. An expanded appendix section provides helpful tips for collecting specimens from pediatric and other challenging patients. CLSI 

Urine specimen collection

COPAN’s UriSponge combines a plastic tube and a cap with sponges with boric acid and sodium formate urine preservatives. Simply collect a sample by submerging the sponge into urine specimen. UriSponge allows safe collection and preservation of urine specimens without the added disposal expense and hazard of hypodermic urine transfer straws. UriSponge preservatives are evenly dispersed within the sponge and are only activated upon contact with urine. It eliminates the need to adhere to precise fill lines, reducing bacterial inhibition from overexposure to preservatives, or overgrowth associated with traditional vacuum boric acid systems. COPAN

Mobile draw station

Experienced phlebotomists know that many patients are physically unable to make it to a draw room. Often these patients must be drawn in alternate locations that are awkward and unsafe. MarketLab’s Mobile Draw Station Plus was designed by a group of phlebotomists who wanted a portable workstation that could travel anywhere. Its heavy-duty spring securely clamps on chair arms, wheelchairs, and bed rails. Each station holds four 13mm tubes, two 11mm tubes, alcohol wipes, and adhesive bandages. MarketLab

Basic venipuncture video

The Center for Phlebotomy Education’s latest video, Basic Venipuncture, 3rd Edition, teaches how to perform venipunctures according to the latest CLSI standards. Detailed demonstrations include draws using tube holders, syringes, and winged blood collection sets. Emphasis is placed on needlestick prevention, proper patient identification, preventing patient injury, and obtaining specimens free from errors that can alter results. Filmed in high-def, this training video includes graphic animation, closed-captions, and access to a CE exercise to meet in-house continuing education requirements. Available in DVD and streaming formats. Running time: 43 minutes. The Center for Phlebotomy Education

Venus blood collection

The VACUETTE SAFELINK holder provides a safe, efficient, and practical mean for blood collection from venous access devices with a female luer port. In addition, the holder allows for easy and quick sampling with the assurance of a luer lock connection. The sterile, disposable tube holder is made of unbreakable plastic and does not contain natural rubber latex. The internal needle of the VACUETTE SAFELINK holder is made of stainless steel. Greiner Bio-One

Retractable safety blood collection

The VanishPoint Blood Collection Set (BCS) is a retractable safety blood collection device that allows in-vein activation, which virtually eliminates exposure to the contaminated needle. The automated needle retraction is activated by depressing a retraction trigger located near the finger grip area, allowing for easy one-handed activation, without changes in hand position, while reducing the risk of inadvertent activation. In addition, the needle retraction automatically clamps the tubing, reducing the risk of exposure to blood and prevents reuse. The automated, in-vein activation of the retractable VanishPoint BCS effectively reduces the risk of needlestick injuries and blood exposure. Retractable Technologies

Fecal swab collection

Optimize your specimen collection and preservation of fecal enteric bacteria. Puritan’s Fecal Opti-Swab Collection and Transport System is intended for the collection and transport of clinical fecal and rectal swab specimens. Features a liquid-based, ready-to-use system for rectal swabbing or direct collection from fecal sample. Simple to use, it eliminates unnecessary specimen handling steps. Made in USA. Puritan

Capillary blood collection tubes

RAM Scientific‘s 100 percent plastic SAFE-T-FILL Capillary Blood Collection Tubes are pre-assembled with a capillary tube, attached cap, and a microtube to improve the quality of capillary blood samples collected from finger and heel sticks. SAFE-T-FILL tubes use capillary action to reduce hemolysis and tissue contamination by eliminating the tendency to scoop or milk the finger. Additive in both the capillary “straw” and the microtube allows the blood to begin mixing with anticoagulant immediately to prevent clotting. Available in a wide variety of sizes and additives. Eliminate redraws. Request samples at [email protected]. RAM Scientific

Metal free tube

Sarstedt’s Metal Free Tube is a 7ml screw cap tube certified with low threshold levels of 19 commonly tested metals. The Metal Free Tube is manufactured in a controlled and specially developed process to minimize metal content and contact. The process was validated with third party testing of multiple lots, and the metals and threshold limits are listed on each zip-top bag of 25 tubes. Each tube is affixed with a distinctive blue “Metal Free” label for easy differentiation in the laboratory. Sarstedt’s round base Metal Free Tube has a diameter of 13mm and a length of 82mm. Sarstedt