Why does the red cross use a 16G needle?

[anabolicscuba]

Could someone tell me why the f&%k the red cross has to use such a large needle when you give blood? The mark takes forever to go away and I swear I've got one that left a tiny mark that seems rather permanent. It just seems 18 or 20 gauge would get the job done just fine.

 

[thatbloke]

have u seen how much blood the draw sometimes?

just makes sense to use a larger needle, saves alot of time for them

its an ugly looking needle though, dark rusty colour

ud never get the job done effeciently with a 20g, or a smaller needle

 

[Juiceboy44]

Damn a 16G needle?
And I thought the 18G I use to draw out of the bottle is huge.
Fuck that, I aint giving blood

 

[bigoso]

if you are giving RBC's it's a good idea to use a larger gauge so the rbc's are not lysed (sp?) rendering them useless. When blood is transfused in the hospital it is preferable that an 18 g or larger needle is used for this reason

 

[littlebill]

Quite an easy answer- they have a number of "reject" phlebotomists trying to find veins(which cannot be missed with a 16) and could not get hired anywhere else where they would make twice the amount$.

 

[Massive G]

It's like a knife going in I agree but 8 minutes later---hematocrit is down 1.5%.

 

[mike913]

16ga sounds about right I guess...never really looked to see what was used on me. But with IV's while I was in the army we used 18ga as the standard...I think you could get 16ga as well, just not prefered

 

[Jarconis]

they're sadistic

 

[Ashop]

Could someone tell me why the f&%k the red cross has to use such a large needle when you give blood? The mark takes forever to go away and I swear I've got one that left a tiny mark that seems rather permanent. It just seems 18 or 20 gauge would get the job done just fine.

They probably just use it for efficiency and speed of the draw. I would imagine an 18g would work just as well.

 

[bigdozzer]

probably because they dont care if it hurts you or not...easier for them

 

[aflo]

well, i don't work for the lab or anything.. but i am a registered nurse and using a 16g needle is actually harder than using a small needle. usually newbie nurses or lab techs go with a smaller needle bc its easier. Im guessing you have pretty big veins and they thought eff it! usually a pride thing lol but ya really no reason to go that big with just a blood draw.

 

[Big Danny]

16 gauge it's very common for blood colection. It is a very sharp needle so it's nearly painless.

 

[TNH]

I'd suspect it is because it draws up the blood much faster.
Plus, going directly into a vein isn't very painful. IM injections that touch nerves are where the real pain is, IME.

 

[mojolnir]

Sorry to hijack the thread but does anyone know how long hematocrit levels go down for after getting blood drawn?

 

[Fitness 500]

16 gauge it's very common for blood colection. It is a very sharp needle so it's nearly painless.

Yeah you really don't feel it go in and it's not so bad unless you look at that big needle poking out of your arm.

 

[warrior504th]

I was told smaller ones strip the platelets... or something like that... when I asked.

 

[oliveoil]

if you are giving RBC's it's a good idea to use a larger gauge so the rbc's are not lysed (sp?) rendering them useless. When blood is transfused in the hospital it is preferable that an 18 g or larger needle is used for this reason

This is the actual amswer to your question.

 

[oliveoil]

if you are giving RBC's it's a good idea to use a larger gauge so the rbc's are not lysed (sp?) rendering them useless. When blood is transfused in the hospital it is preferable that an 18 g or larger needle is used for this reason

This is the actual answer to your question.

 

[wasp]

it's not the needle, it's the butchers using it.............i always get bruised the fack up by the red cross

 

[LIFTW8S]

Damn a 16G needle?
And I thought the 18G I use to draw out of the bottle is huge.
Fuck that, I aint giving blood

Seriously! My 18 gauge looks intense, but 16 ga going into my veings? Fuckkkk that!