An evaluation of sharp safety blood evacuation devices
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An evaluation of sharp safety blood evacuation devices

Joanna Ford Research and development officer, Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory, Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend
Peter Phillips Director, Surgical Materials Testing Laboratory, Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend

This article describes an evaluation of three sharp safety blood evacuation devices in seven Welsh NHS boards and the Welsh Blood Service. Products consisted of two phlebotomy needles possessing safety shields and one phlebotomy device with wings, tubing and a retractable needle. The device companies provided the devices and appropriate training. Participating healthcare workers used the safety device instead of the conventional device to sample blood during the evaluation period and each type of device was evaluated in random order. Participants filled in a questionnaire for each type of device and then a further questionnaire comparing the two shielded evacuation needles with each other. Results showed that responses to all three products were fairly positive, although each device was not liked by everyone who used it. When the two shielded evacuation devices were compared with each other, most users preferred the device with the shield positioned directly above the needle to the device with the shield at the side. However, in laboratory tests, the preferred device produced more fluid splatter than the other shielded device on activation.

Nursing Standard. 25, 43, 41-47. doi: 10.7748/ns2011.06.25.43.41.c8595

Correspondence

joanna@smtl.co.uk

Conflict of interest

The authors can confirm that there was no conflict of interest in the performance of the evaluation

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

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