If a patient has IVs on both arms, what should you do?

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Multiple Choice

If a patient has IVs on both arms, what should you do?

Preserving sample integrity when IV therapy is present. IV fluids or medications can enter a drawn blood sample, diluting or contaminating it and causing inaccurate lab results. The safest approach is to avoid drawing from an arm with an IV. Coordinate with nursing to pause the IV if you must draw from that limb, or, if possible, draw from a different, IV-free site. This helps ensure the sample reflects the patient’s true blood composition without IV influence. Using an arm with an IV is not appropriate because of contamination risk; drawing from a leg vein is not a standard substitute in most adults, and fingersticks typically don’t provide enough volume or the right type of specimen for routine venous labs.

Preserving sample integrity when IV therapy is present. IV fluids or medications can enter a drawn blood sample, diluting or contaminating it and causing inaccurate lab results. The safest approach is to avoid drawing from an arm with an IV. Coordinate with nursing to pause the IV if you must draw from that limb, or, if possible, draw from a different, IV-free site. This helps ensure the sample reflects the patient’s true blood composition without IV influence. Using an arm with an IV is not appropriate because of contamination risk; drawing from a leg vein is not a standard substitute in most adults, and fingersticks typically don’t provide enough volume or the right type of specimen for routine venous labs.

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