Another Crazy One

[livecam]

I just got back from the lab, just a routine blood draw and urinalysis ahead of a 3 month followup next week.  I have small veins and always request a butterfly type needle because they've been successfully used in my non fistula arm for a number of years.

The phlebotomist told me that they were out of butterflies and that they would be ordering no more.  She said that some lab results were found to be inaccurate when butterfly needles were used.  The first thing I'm thinking is how is the needle type going to affect lab results and my conclusion is that it could hardly be possible that it would.

My second thought after hearing this was that this might just be another cost cutting thing.  Has anyone ever heard tell of this type of thing?  I think it might be just "another crazy one".  The end!




EDITED:  Moved to proper thread "General Discussion" - Goofynina/Admin.

[angela515]

I haven't heard of it.... but if they do it where I go, I will have to go somewhere else, as I have to have a butterfly used.

[livecam]

Just a side note..I had visions of pushing, probing, and a very sore arm and almost didn't do the labs but in a heartbeat I realized that there was really no alternative and that they had to be done.

She sent that needle to the right spot on her first try and there were no problems...ahhhhhh.

[Ohio Buckeye]

They always have to use butterflies with me.
I don't know how the type of needle used could affect blood results.
That doesn't make sense.  I think you're right "another crazy one".
I'm sure glad tho for you that she got it on first try.
One day my nuse tried 3 times and couldn't succeed then she called another
nurse and she tried and couldn't and I said "I'll just come back another day".
So I left and when I went back they didn't have a problem.

[angela515]

Sounds like me Ohio... when I am admitted in the hospital and need an IV, they know me by now that they call up the people to put in a PICC line because sometimes it can take 7 or 8 tries before they get an IV if they even get one, and that's the IV team and Mercy One (The people who do the helicopter emergencies.).

[BigSky]

It does sound crazy but butterfly needles can skew some test results.

It your case it may not, but its probably easier for that clinic to just get rid of all of them so they do not get used by accident in those lab tests that can be skewed.
There are a variety of things that skew results, from shaking the tubes to vigorously, putting blood into the tubes too fast, to leaving the tourniquet on too long before blood is drawn.  Even how some phlebotomists slap on the skin beforehand can affect results if they slap too hard.

[angela515]

So what are people supposed to do if that's all that can be used on them is butterfly's? I never heard of this before... test's be skewed due to the type of needle.. wonder if any of my tests have been wrong from it.

[Roxy]

And if the tests are skewed, it can't possibly be THAT significant of a difference can it? All tests must have some type of margin of error, these are numbers and there are so many factors that go into tests, it just seems logical for a little margin of error.

[KT0930]

I can't imagine butterflies affect the labs that we get done as dialysis patients, since that's all they've ever used on me at my clinic. Let's hope not, anyway, since my veins are too small for the others anyway. LC, glad they got you on the first stick!!