What is the recommended procedure for drawing blood from a patient with an IV?

The recommended procedure for drawing blood from a patient with an IV is to draw from the opposite arm. This practice is important because drawing blood from the same arm as the IV can introduce contaminants from the IV fluid into the blood sample, which can skew test results. Additionally, the presence of the IV can make it difficult to obtain a clean sample due to the infusion of fluids or medications, which might affect the composition of the blood being drawn.

Choosing to draw from the opposite arm helps ensure that the blood sample reflects the patient's actual blood values without the interference of IV fluids. This method is preferred in clinical practice to maintain the integrity of laboratory results.

In cases where an opposite arm is not available, alternative methods, such as utilizing a central line for blood sampling, may be considered, but it’s generally best practice to avoid drawing from an arm that has an active IV infusion for routine blood collection.