The area of the forearm most frequently used in venipuncture.
Antecubital space
A substance that inhibits blood clotting.
Anticoagulant
Blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
Artery
Absence of any harmful microorganisms.
Asepsis
A thin, light-colored layer of white blood cells and platelets that lies between a toplayer of plasma and a bottom layer of red blood cells when an anticoagulant has been added to a blood specimen.
Buffy coat
Introduction of disease producing organisms into or on normally sterile agents.
Contamination
A protein found in plasma which aids in clotting.
Fibrinogen
A swelling or mass of coagulated blood caused by a break in a blood vessel.
Hematoma
The breakdown of blood cells.
Hemolysis
Antiseptic solution capable of preventing growth of microorganisms.
70% Isopropyl alcohol
Large vein of the antecubital space most commonly used for drawing blood.
Median Basilic
The liquid part of the blood.
Plasma
The liquid part of the blood from which the clotting factor fibrinogen has been removed.
Serum
Free of all living organisms, harmful and non-harmful.
Sterile
Apparatus made of plastic which is fitted to a metal needle, and consists of a barrel and a fitted plunger.
Syringe
A constrictor used to distend the veins for venipuncture.
Tourniquet
Method of venipuncture using a two way needle. One end is used for the venipuncture, the other is attached to the rubber stopper of a vacuum tube in which the blood is collected.
Vacutainer Method
Blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart.
Vein
Puncturing of a vein to remove blood or insert fluids.