Clotted blood samples in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective, observational study to evaluate interventions to reduce blood sample clotting

<h3>Background</h3><p dir="ltr">Blood draws for laboratory investigations are essential for patient management in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). When blood samples clot before analysis, they are rejected, which delays treatment decisions and necessitates repeated s...

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Main Author: Matheus F. P. T. van Rens (17993767) (author)
Other Authors: Kevin Hugill (17993770) (author), Airene L. V. Francia (17993773) (author), Abraham Victor Macaraig (17993776) (author), Fredericus H. J. van Loon (10866501) (author), Timothy R. Spencer (17993779) (author), Mohammad A. A. Bayoumi (17993782) (author)
Published: 2023
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_version_ 1864513526939254784
author Matheus F. P. T. van Rens (17993767)
author2 Kevin Hugill (17993770)
Airene L. V. Francia (17993773)
Abraham Victor Macaraig (17993776)
Fredericus H. J. van Loon (10866501)
Timothy R. Spencer (17993779)
Mohammad A. A. Bayoumi (17993782)
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author_facet Matheus F. P. T. van Rens (17993767)
Kevin Hugill (17993770)
Airene L. V. Francia (17993773)
Abraham Victor Macaraig (17993776)
Fredericus H. J. van Loon (10866501)
Timothy R. Spencer (17993779)
Mohammad A. A. Bayoumi (17993782)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Matheus F. P. T. van Rens (17993767)
Kevin Hugill (17993770)
Airene L. V. Francia (17993773)
Abraham Victor Macaraig (17993776)
Fredericus H. J. van Loon (10866501)
Timothy R. Spencer (17993779)
Mohammad A. A. Bayoumi (17993782)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2023-06-20T03:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1111/nicc.12941
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Clotted_blood_samples_in_the_neonatal_intensive_care_unit_A_retrospective_observational_study_to_evaluate_interventions_to_reduce_blood_sample_clotting/25250035
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Health sciences
Nursing
blood clotting
blood sampling
neonate
NICU
phlebotomy
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Clotted blood samples in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective, observational study to evaluate interventions to reduce blood sample clotting
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <h3>Background</h3><p dir="ltr">Blood draws for laboratory investigations are essential for patient management in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). When blood samples clot before analysis, they are rejected, which delays treatment decisions and necessitates repeated sampling.</p><h3>Aims</h3><p dir="ltr">To decrease the incidence of rejected blood samples taken for laboratory investigation as a result of clotted sample.</p><h3>Study design</h3><p dir="ltr">This retrospective observational study used routine data on blood draws from preterm infants collected between January 2017 and June 2019 in a 112‐cot NICU in Qatar. Quality improvement interventions to reduce the rate of clotted blood samples included: awareness raising and safe sampling workshops with NICU staff, involvement of the neonatal vascular access team, development of a complete blood count (CBC) sample collection pathway, review of sample collection equipment, introducing the Tenderfoot® heel lance, establishment of benchmarks and provision of dedicated blood extraction equipment.</p><h3>Results</h3><p dir="ltr">First attempt blood draw occurred in 10 706 cases, representing a 96.2% success rate. In 427 (3.8%) cases, the samples were clotted requiring repeat collection. The overall rate of clotted specimens decreased from 4.8% in 2017 and 2018 to 2.4% in 2019, with odds ratios of 1.42 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–1.78, p = .002), 1.46 (95% CI 1.17–1.81, p < .001) and 0.49 (95% CI 0.39–0.63, p < .001), respectively. The majority (87%–95%) of blood samples were by venepuncture using an intravenous (IV) catheter or the NeoSafe™ blood sampling device. Heel prick sampling was the second (2%–9%) most common method. Clotted samples were most frequently associated with needle use, 228 of 427 (53%), and IV cannula, 162 of 427 (38%), with odds ratios of 4.14 (95% CI 3.34–5.13, p < .001) and 3.11 (95% CI 2.51–3.86, p < .001), respectively.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p dir="ltr">Our interventions over 3 years were associated with reduced rates of sample rejection due to clotting, and this led to improved patient experience through fewer repeated samplings.</p><h3>Relevance to Clinical Practice</h3><p dir="ltr">The insights gained from this project can help to improve patient care. Interventions that reduce the rate of blood sample rejection by clinical laboratories can lead to economic savings, timelier diagnostic and treatment decisions, and contribute to an improved quality care experience for all critical care patients, irrespective of age, by reducing the need for repeated phlebotomy and the risk of related complications.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Nursing in Critical Care<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12941" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12941</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_ea6f28e53da5e5d76c80892681551aef
identifier_str_mv 10.1111/nicc.12941
network_acronym_str Manara2
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oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/25250035
publishDate 2023
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Clotted blood samples in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective, observational study to evaluate interventions to reduce blood sample clottingMatheus F. P. T. van Rens (17993767)Kevin Hugill (17993770)Airene L. V. Francia (17993773)Abraham Victor Macaraig (17993776)Fredericus H. J. van Loon (10866501)Timothy R. Spencer (17993779)Mohammad A. A. Bayoumi (17993782)Health sciencesNursingblood clottingblood samplingneonateNICUphlebotomy<h3>Background</h3><p dir="ltr">Blood draws for laboratory investigations are essential for patient management in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). When blood samples clot before analysis, they are rejected, which delays treatment decisions and necessitates repeated sampling.</p><h3>Aims</h3><p dir="ltr">To decrease the incidence of rejected blood samples taken for laboratory investigation as a result of clotted sample.</p><h3>Study design</h3><p dir="ltr">This retrospective observational study used routine data on blood draws from preterm infants collected between January 2017 and June 2019 in a 112‐cot NICU in Qatar. Quality improvement interventions to reduce the rate of clotted blood samples included: awareness raising and safe sampling workshops with NICU staff, involvement of the neonatal vascular access team, development of a complete blood count (CBC) sample collection pathway, review of sample collection equipment, introducing the Tenderfoot® heel lance, establishment of benchmarks and provision of dedicated blood extraction equipment.</p><h3>Results</h3><p dir="ltr">First attempt blood draw occurred in 10 706 cases, representing a 96.2% success rate. In 427 (3.8%) cases, the samples were clotted requiring repeat collection. The overall rate of clotted specimens decreased from 4.8% in 2017 and 2018 to 2.4% in 2019, with odds ratios of 1.42 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–1.78, p = .002), 1.46 (95% CI 1.17–1.81, p < .001) and 0.49 (95% CI 0.39–0.63, p < .001), respectively. The majority (87%–95%) of blood samples were by venepuncture using an intravenous (IV) catheter or the NeoSafe™ blood sampling device. Heel prick sampling was the second (2%–9%) most common method. Clotted samples were most frequently associated with needle use, 228 of 427 (53%), and IV cannula, 162 of 427 (38%), with odds ratios of 4.14 (95% CI 3.34–5.13, p < .001) and 3.11 (95% CI 2.51–3.86, p < .001), respectively.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p dir="ltr">Our interventions over 3 years were associated with reduced rates of sample rejection due to clotting, and this led to improved patient experience through fewer repeated samplings.</p><h3>Relevance to Clinical Practice</h3><p dir="ltr">The insights gained from this project can help to improve patient care. Interventions that reduce the rate of blood sample rejection by clinical laboratories can lead to economic savings, timelier diagnostic and treatment decisions, and contribute to an improved quality care experience for all critical care patients, irrespective of age, by reducing the need for repeated phlebotomy and the risk of related complications.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Nursing in Critical Care<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12941" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12941</a></p>2023-06-20T03:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1111/nicc.12941https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Clotted_blood_samples_in_the_neonatal_intensive_care_unit_A_retrospective_observational_study_to_evaluate_interventions_to_reduce_blood_sample_clotting/25250035CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/252500352023-06-20T03:00:00Z
spellingShingle Clotted blood samples in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective, observational study to evaluate interventions to reduce blood sample clotting
Matheus F. P. T. van Rens (17993767)
Health sciences
Nursing
blood clotting
blood sampling
neonate
NICU
phlebotomy
status_str publishedVersion
title Clotted blood samples in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective, observational study to evaluate interventions to reduce blood sample clotting
title_full Clotted blood samples in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective, observational study to evaluate interventions to reduce blood sample clotting
title_fullStr Clotted blood samples in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective, observational study to evaluate interventions to reduce blood sample clotting
title_full_unstemmed Clotted blood samples in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective, observational study to evaluate interventions to reduce blood sample clotting
title_short Clotted blood samples in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective, observational study to evaluate interventions to reduce blood sample clotting
title_sort Clotted blood samples in the neonatal intensive care unit: A retrospective, observational study to evaluate interventions to reduce blood sample clotting
topic Health sciences
Nursing
blood clotting
blood sampling
neonate
NICU
phlebotomy