WINCHESTER HOSPITAL
Winchester, Massachusetts

SECTION:		Phlebotomy

TITLE:		Venous Blood Gas

PURPOSE:	To insure the timely collection of Venous blood gas specimens for the Respiratory Therapy Department.

DEFINITION:

PROCEDURE:

Patients who present to the laboratory for this testing are to be registered and ordered in the system. A phlebotomist draws the specimen. Respiratory will run and result the testing. This testing should only be performed at the Main Lab at the Hospital.

1.	Register the patient and order a VABG in the system. Draw the specimen in a Green Li Hep (Lithium Heparin) tube (no gel should be in the tube). 
2.	Label the tube with the printed bar code label. Time, date and initial the specimen following proper labeling procedures.
3.	Make a copy of the patient registration form and the requisition form that shows the blood gas order from the physician.
4.	The phlebotomist must page the Respiratory Department at 781-256-6772 (or you can dial 77, 6772 for inside of the hospital only) to let them know that we have collected a specimen. After 11:00 pm, please use pager number 6770 or 6771. DO NOT call the respiratory department or send with a volunteer. Respiratory will make arrangements with you to pick up the specimen from the floor or the lab if it is an outpatient for testing. The two forms must accompany the specimen.
5.	A copy of the patient’s registration form should accompany the specimen.  

DO NOT send the specimen to the laboratory for centrifuging. 

ADOPTED__________________________________

REVIEWED_________________________________

REVISED___________________________________