In any venipuncture situation, you may consider the use of a vacutainer blood collection system. This system is ideal for any patient that requires multiple vials of blood to be collected at once. It is especially beneficial for patients who have restrictions on jugular venipuncture due to hypocoagulable disease states. It is the gold standard for blood collection in humans. With proper technique, using a vacuum tube can lead to more accurate results, as the blood is deposited directly into the vials with minimal trauma to the blood cells. The vacuum system allows the blood to be collected with a minimal amount of pressure, thus avoiding the common problems of hemolysis and vessel collapse during traditional venipuncture. The system can be used for venipuncture from any vein.

When preparing to utilize the butterfly system, select either a 25 or 21 gauge single-use BD butterfly set, which contains the specialized multiple sample luer adapter. This adapter contains a non-patient (NP) needle covered with a rubber seal that pierces the stopper of each blood collection tube as it is advanced into the tube holder.