Tourniquet For Blood Test

[mark382]

Saw this on a Facebook group. It was if a tourniquet should be used for a blood test. Someone asked why not use one. The answer is as follows "squashes the red bloods cells: PV blood tests should always be done uncuffed". The follow up, was it squashes the red blood cells. I've always had tourniquet. I can't realistically see how it can squash the red cells as they're so small. Anyone else come across this.

[Paul_1971]

Personally can't imagine it's an issue unless it's left in place for a significant period if time.

[Otterfield]

Yes I saw that on Facebook too and thought it looked unlikely.

[Grizly]

I find putting holiday photos on Facebook is great but to get so called information off Facebook can be dubious at best. If I have a question I find this site the best.

[AirconBob]

Had this conversation with a few medical people.Also questioned - if the blood runs 'up' your arm shouldn't the needle for venisection be put in a 'downward' direction.

The answers seem to be that neither make much difference...

[beetle]

A district nurse took my blood sample last time. She told me a tourniquet should never be on for longer that 60 seconds. This is the first time I’ve been told this in over 27 years of regular MPN blood tests. As I have difficult veins I suspect tourniquets have been used for longer than that on me in the past. As for the damage it can potentially do to the blood cells I have no idea but the cartoon image of them all queuing up to get back passed the tourniquet makes me smile to myself (life’s too short to take much of it too seriously!) Best wishes to all, Jan

[Buggerbear]

The nurse has always used a tourniquet when she is hunting for a good vein. After she inserts the needle, she always releases the tourniquet. The tourniquet is always tight and hurts my arm so I can see where it would squash blood cells.

[katiewalsh]

I’ve had tourniquets cause my blood vessels to blow. Maybe they were on too long?