title: Quality impact on diagnostic blood specimen collection using a new device to relieve venipuncture pain.
abstract: A new device called Buzzy(®) has been recently presented that combines a cooling ice pack and a vibrating motor in order to relieve the venipuncture pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Buzzy(®) use during diagnostic blood specimen collection by venipuncture for routine immunochemistry tests. Blood was collected from 100 volunteers by a single, expert phlebotomist. A vein was located on the left forearm without applying tourniquet, in order to prevent any interference from venous stasis, and blood samples were collected using a 20-G straight needle directly into 5 mL vacuum tubes with clot activator and gel separator. In sequence, external cold and vibration by Buzzy(®) was applied on the right forearm-5 cm above the chosen puncture site-for 1 min before venipuncture and continued until the end of the same procedure already done in the left forearm. The panel of tests included the following: glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, c-reactive protein, urea, creatinine, uric acid, alkaline phosphatase, amylase, AST, ALT, g-glutamyltransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, total bilirubin, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, potassium, chloride, lipase, cortisol, insulin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, total triiodothyronine, free triiodothyronine, total thyroxine, free thyroxine and haemolysis index. Clinically significant differences between samples were found only for: total protein, albumin and transferrin. The Buzzy(®) can be used during diagnostic blood specimens collection by venipuncture for the majority of the routine immunochemistry tests. We only suggest avoiding this device during blood collection when protein, albumin and transferrin determinations should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Life and Reproduction Sciences, University of Verona, Ospedale Policlinico, P.le L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, Italy ; Post-Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Medical Pathology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Parana Brazil ; MERCOSUL, Sector Committee of Clinical Analyses and in vitro Diagnostics, CSM 20, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ; Brazilian Society of Clinical Analyses on Sao Paulo State, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lima-Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lippi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Life and Reproduction Sciences, University of Verona, Ospedale Policlinico, P.le L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Salvagno
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Life and Reproduction Sciences, University of Verona, Ospedale Policlinico, P.le L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montagnana
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Medical Pathology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Parana Brazil.
authors.forename: Geraldo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Picheth
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Life and Reproduction Sciences, University of Verona, Ospedale Policlinico, P.le L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, Italy ; Post-Graduate Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Medical Pathology, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, Parana Brazil.
authors.forename: Gian Cesare
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Guidi
keywords: Clinical chemistry tests; Laboratory error; Patient safety; Phlebotomy; Preanalytical variability; Reproducibility of results