Tips:

Dealing with Blood Draws

by Kim R

  • If your child has frequent blood draws or a medical condition that can require STAT blood draws, ask your child’s pediatrician or medical specialist for a standing order.  In some cases, it may prove helpful to have two standing orders on hand – a short order (to cover the basics) and a long order (for more comprehensive testing). Having a standing order on hand can save you time running to the doctor’s office or waiting for the physician to fax the lab slip, and it will help ensure there aren’t any blood tests that are accidentally omitted in situations requiring a lab slip to be written up in a hurry.
  • Consider using Emla or LMX to numb those areas of your child’s arms where blood is taken a good 40 minutes in advance of any blood draw. You will need to cover the Emla/LMX with Tegaderm (or saran wrap in a pinch) to activate the numbing agent.  Use the Emla/LMX liberally.  These numbing agents will help minimize pain and suffering for your child.
  • Ask around and find a phlebotomist that has a good reputation for drawing blood from children.   If the phlebotomist you take your child is not good at getting blood from your child on the first try, then shop around until you find a phlebotomist who can.  Be aware that hospitals have some of the best phlebotomists, who are generally available 24/7 to draw blood for outpatients.  Also, some hospitals and ERs have a freeze spray they can use to numb your child’s arm or hand right before a blood draw or IV.
  • If you take your child to a lab outside a hospital for blood work, consider making an appointment online in advance for your child’s blood draw to minimize time in the waiting room.
  • Try to go to the same lab every time.  Be aware that labs may use different methodologies for certain blood tests.  A change in methodology could make it more difficult to identify and explain fluctuations in your child’s blood work.
  • If you do change labs for your child’s blood work, let your medical provider know and ask whether the change in labs could explain any concerning discrepancies between current and previous test results.
  • Talk to and prepare your child for upcoming blood draws, even if you think he may be too young or unable to understand.  You don’t want your child feeling blindsided or living in fear that he has to get a blood draw every time you load him into the car.
  • Try to schedule pleasant activities directly following blood draws.  This will give you and your child something pleasant to talk about and look forward to during the procedure. Try to give your child a voice in what these pleasant activities will be.
  • If your child is fearful of blood draws and has to get blood draw while in the hospital, you may want to consider asking for Child Life Services to assist you with the blood draw. They can help distract your child, and they will find ways to make the experience more pleasant. Keep in mind that Child Life Services may also be available for ER visits and IV placement, depending on the time of day/night you are in the ER.
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