Self Phlebotomy Needle

[RzSco]

For those who draw their own blood, what type of needle do you find easier to use?

Do you use an arm vein or find one somewhere else to have both hands free?

 

[BeefNewton]

16g straight needle. Would probably prefer butterfly but never used one. My whole setup is a pain in the ass. I use an aquarium dosing machine for perstaltic pump. However, a new blood bank showed up locally, one that doesn't have their head up their corporate ass as much as Red Cross. First visit they did double red cell extraction. Hopefully, I can just keep using them and stop doing it myself... so tired of doing it myself.

 

[RzSco]

That sounds like an unpleasant experience.

I'm just wanting to collect samples for mail-order blood work, for now.

 

[malfeasance]

I use the actual blood draw needle with a tube and a 500ml bag. It is not just a regular needle of any gauge. It is shaped differently and has an extra hole.

 

[MaintenanceGuy]

I've used a 18 Guage with the plunger pulled from a 3ml barrel and squirter my blood into a empty water bottle and ordered the actual kit that comes with a 16 Guage butterfly like the ones at redcross.

 

[malfeasance]

@MaintenanceGuy - how did you keep from making a mess?

 

[MaintenanceGuy]

@MaintenanceGuy - how did you keep from making a mess?

I put the end of the open barrel into the bottle and just stood there in the kitchen. It got on the counter a little bit.