Butterfly Needles for Phlebotomy Procedure - Precautions & Disposal

1. Butterfly Needles for Phlebotomy Procedure: Precautions and Disposal ======================================================== As a healthcare professional or caregiver, conducting diagnostic tests is a part of your routine, which means you often deal with patients who require blood tests. One of the most common needles used during such procedures is the butterfly needle. Even though these needles offer maximum safety and comfort, as a caregiver, you need to care for yourself first. This means being very careful throughout the procedure - usage, removal, and disposal are a must to ensure your and your patient’s safety. In this blog, we will look into precautions that will help prevent infections and the correct way of disposing of blood collection needles, particularly butterfly needles. Precautions to Prevent Infections When Using Butterfly Needles The risk of infection always persists when using phlebotomy needles. Thus, sterilizing them and taking necessary measures to protect yourself and your patients is a must. Some of the things you must remember are: •Adhere to all the aseptic protocols when dealing with needles and post-use. This includes wearing fitted, medical, or non-sterile gloves and following a hand hygiene routine. •Make sure to disinfect the insertion site using a chlorhexidine wipe or alcohol before inserting the needle. •After inserting the needle, don’t try to re-enter or palpate the site since it introduces bacteria. theclinivex.com

2. •Try to use packed sterile needle kits whenever available. This prevents unnecessary and unwanted exposure. •Be it a butterfly or any other needle, cover immediately after use to avoid needle stick injuries. You can use safety features such as re-sheathing devices. •Do not compromise on the sterilization system/sterile barriers, and you must not recap needles. •Discarding the needles properly immediately after use in relevant containers is a must. •Educate patients about possible signs or symptoms of infection after the blood is drawn. By considering and following the above-discussed factors, you will be able to reduce the risk of infecting the patients and yourself during the procedure. Safe Disposal of Butterfly Needles The risk of infection does not end with you following the precautions; proper disposal and handling are equally important. The correct way to dispose of or discard used butterfly needles is discussed below. •Never leave a used needle uncapped or loose post-use. They must go directly into the authorized sharp container. •Don’t bend, recap, or break the needle intentionally before disposing. It increases the risk of needlestick injuries. •For added protection from needlestick injuries, activate the needle’s safety feature. This will help you retract the needle appropriately before disposal. •In case automatic retraction is absent, grab the wings of the butterfly needles from one hand and hold on to the barrel/needle hub from the other hand. Use an appropriate manual technique and apply the correct amount of pressure to retract the needle into the sheath. Remember, do not try to recap the needle. •Make sure to close and label the authorized sharp containers since a lot of needles require professional hazardous waste disposal or incineration. •In case of a needlestick injury, address it immediately by following the necessary protocols. •Make use of other relevant safety mechanisms. Conclusion Adhering to safety protocols and appropriate disposal procedures will ensure the successful completion of the procedure while ensuring your and the patient’s safety. Please remember to source quality needles from blood collection needle suppliers since it affects the success of the procedure and the safety of people associated with it. Source: https://locantotech.com/butterfly-needles-for-phlebotomy-procedure/ theclinivex.com