Blood specimens should not be collected from an arm into which intravenous (IV) fluid is administered. The phlebotomist should draw blood from the opposite arm or hand if possible. If an IV line delivers fluid into the patient's vein and the specimen is drawn from that vein, the specimen may be contaminated and diluted by the IV fluid, and the blood test results could be erroneous.
Suppose the arm or hand opposite of the arm that contains the IV line is not accessible or cannot be used for another reason. In that case, a capillary collection may be an option if only a small specimen is needed. However, if a venipuncture is necessary and the arm with the IV line in place is the only option, ask the clinical person in charge of the patient's care to turn off the IV. Ensure that the fluid has stopped flowing through the line, and wait at least two minutes before performing the venipuncture. It is imperative that the phlebotomist witness that the health care provider has physically turned off the IV and then turned it back on after the draw has been completed. A phlebotomist must not turn the IV on or off.
