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Pediatric Blood Volumes: A One-Page Reference Guide

City of Hope National Medical Center, Clinical Pathology, 1500 E Duarte Rd, Duarte, CA 91010

Jodie Reitan, CPT IAPS

Clinical Pathology Department, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA.

At our institution, a multidisciplinary team met to work out a blood volume policy for our pediatric patients' laboratory testing. Because we are a cancer center, many of our patients are on protocols and/or are in the hospital for an extended period of time. These factors result in multiple blood draws. It is important to manage the volumes used so that we do not compromise the hematological status of our pediatric patients. The concerns of nurses and laboratory technologists were discussed and a three-tiered system was designed consisting of adult volumes, volumes for < 20-kg patients, and volumes for < 10-kg patients. Each tier consists of less blood than the one above it but the cost for such a procedure is increased. Time to conduct the draw, the cost of equipment to do the draw, and inflexibility to verify or add to the original order without resticking the patient increase at each tier. It is imperative to the overall quality of care for all patients that discretion is used when following these guidelines. When it is medically prudent to restrict the blood volumes taken from any patient, it should be done. However, when it is not medically necessary, the increased costs and potential decrease in the quality of laboratory service outweighs the desire to use smaller blood volumes.

Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Vol. 15, No. 4, 223-228 (1998)
DOI: 10.1177/104345429801500405


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