title: Generalizability and Effectiveness of Butterfly Phlebotomy in Reducing Hemolysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to test the hypothesis that exclusive use of butterfly needles for phlebotomy, compared with sample collection via intravenous (IV) catheter, will reduce rates of sample hemolysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational study of hemolysis rates before and after implementation of a "butterfly-only" phlebotomy protocol. Weekly hemolysis rates, generated by the central laboratory, were collected and the proportion of hemolyzed specimens before and after protocol implementation were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prior to institution of the butterfly-only protocol, 11.3% of specimens sent from the emergency department were reported as hemolyzed. During the postintervention period, only 4.3% of specimens were hemolyzed for a proportionate decrease of 62% and an absolute decrease of 7.0% (95% confidence interval = 6.6% to 7.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a butterfly-only phlebotomy protocol cuts hemolysis rates by more than half when compared with IV catheter phlebotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
authors.forename: Douglas P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Barnaby
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wollowitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pearlman
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davitt
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holihan
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
authors.forename: Polly
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bijur
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY.
authors.forename: E John
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Gallagher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000295:instrumentation*