Comparing the Push-Pull Versus Discard Blood Sample Method From Adult Central Vascular Access Devices

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Clinical Pathology
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Central vascular access devices (CVADs) are crucial for administering treatments in oncology.
• Discard blood sampling is a common practice but leads to blood loss and waste.
• Alternative methods are needed to optimize blood collection from CVADs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of the push-pull blood sampling method as a replacement for discard sampling.
• To compare the accuracy and reliability of blood samples obtained by both methods.
• To assess the clinical acceptability and safety of the push-pull method in an oncology setting.

Main Methods:

• A comparative, within-subject study design was employed.
• Paired blood samples were collected from 61 adult patients undergoing outpatient oncology treatment.
• A comprehensive 21-measure laboratory panel was performed on all collected samples.

Main Results:

• Excellent agreement and small mean bias were observed between the push-pull and discard methods.
• Blood samples collected via the push-pull method met clinically acceptable ranges for all tested analytes.
• Laboratory evaluation detected no instances of hemolysis in 59 of the analyzed samples.

Conclusions:

• The push-pull method is a feasible and accurate alternative to discard blood sampling for CVADs.
• This method minimizes blood waste and maintains sample integrity in oncology patients.
• Implementing the push-pull technique can improve patient care and resource utilization in clinical settings.