Question

If blood must be collected from an arm that is receiving IV fluids, how long must the IV be discontinued before a venipuncture can be performed distal or proximal to IV?

Answer 1

The IV should be discontinued for a specific amount of time before performing a venipuncture distal or proximal to the IV site to prevent dilution of the blood sample.

Step-by-step explanation:

When collecting blood from an arm that is receiving IV fluids, the IV should be discontinued for at least 2 minutes before performing a venipuncture distal to the IV site and at least 5 minutes before performing a venipuncture proximal to the IV site. This is to allow the fluid in the IV line to fully mix with the blood in the arm, preventing any dilution of the blood sample.

Learn more about Blood collection during IV fluids administration