title: Contribution of a winged phlebotomy device design to blood splatter.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite a proliferation of phlebotomy devices with engineered sharps injury protection (ESIP), the impact of various winged device designs on blood splatter occurring during venipuncture procedures has not been explored.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the potential for blood splatter of 6 designs of winged phlebotomy devices.
  
  
  METHODS
  A laboratory-based device evaluation without human subjects, using a simulated patient venous system.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 18 winged phlebotomy devices of 6 device designs by Terumo, BD Vacutainer (2 designs), Greiner, Smith Medical, and Kendall (designated A-F, respectively). Scientific filters were positioned around the devices and weighed before and after venipuncture was performed. Visible blood on filters, exam gloves, and devices and measurable blood splatter were the primary units of analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentages of devices and gloves with visible blood on them and filters with measurable blood splatter ranged from 0% to 20%. There was a statistically significant association between device design and visible blood on devices ([Formula: see text]) and between device design and filters with measurable blood splatter ([Formula: see text]), but not between device design and visible blood on gloves. A wide range of associations were demonstrated between device design and visible blood on gloves or devices and incidence of blood splatter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this evaluation suggest that winged phlebotomy devices with ESIP may produce blood splatter during venipuncture. Reinforcing the importance of eye protection and developing a methodology to assess ocular exposure to blood splatter are major implications for healthcare personnel who use these devices. Future studies should focus on evaluating different designs of intravascular devices (intravenous catheters, other phlebotomy devices) for blood splatter.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Administration Health Services Research and Development/Rehabilitation Research and Development Research Center of Excellence, Tampa, Florida, USA. dhaiduve@health.usf.edu
authors.forename: Donna J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Haiduven
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGuire-Wolfe
authors.forename: Shawn P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Applegarth
mesh_terms: D001769:Blood; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000009:adverse effects; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000592:standards*