Intramuscular injection angle
90o
![]()
Subcutaneous injection angle
45 to 90 degree
What are capillaries?
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels in your vascular system
What 7 items do you need for a venipuncture?
Tourniquets, Needle, Vacutainer tube, Vacutainer tube holder, Alcohol, Gauze, Band-aid
How many times do you invert blood tubes?
If the blood has to be mixed with an additive (gently invert the tube 4 to 10 times depending on the specimen tube being used)
Where can you give an intramuscular injection?
The four sites for an intramuscular injection are the shoulder, hip, thigh, and buttock.
Where can you give a subcutaneous injection?
Back of upper arms, Outer side of upper thighs, Belly area. Below your ribs and above your hip bones, at least 2 inches (5 centimeters) away from your belly button.
Where should the capillary puncture on a finger take place?
The puncture should be made across the fingerprint, not parallel to it. The puncture must be performed on the side of the fingertip where tissue depth is sufficient to prevent bone injury.
What angle should the needle be for venipuncture?
30 degrees or less
Do capillary injections have an order of draw?
Yes
What would you do if you had to give a patient multiple intramuscular injections?
Spread out the injections. Use both arms and if you have to give multiple injections in the same arm, it should be separated as far as possible (preferably at least 1” apart).
True or False: You can administer a subcutaneous injection on yourself
True
On an infant where would you do a capillary puncture?
On the heel
Why is order of draw necessary?
To protect against a tube's additive from carrying over into the next tube and affecting test results.
What is the purpose of inverting tubes?
All tubes (except red top tubes which contain no additives) must be gently inverted 5 to 8 times immediately after filling, to ensure proper mixing of blood and anticoagulant, or other additives.
Needle size for intramuscular injections
Needle length is usually 1"–1½", 22–25 gauge, but a longer or shorter needle may be needed depending on the patient's weight.
Needle size for subcutaneous injections
23–25 gauge, 5/8" needle.
Why do you wipe away the first drop of blood in a capillary puncture?
The first drop of blood may contain tissue fluids or contaminants from the skin, which could affect the accuracy of the test results.
Where can you draw blood?
Back of hand, inside elbow, forearm, foot
What injection site do you not put a band-aid?
Intradermal injection
Why are IM injections absorbed quicker than SQ injections?
The IM injection route deposits medication into deep muscle tissue, which has a rich blood supply, allowing medication to be absorbed faster than it would be by the subcutaneous route.
Why are SQ injections absorbed slower than SQ injections?
As subcutaneous tissue has few blood vessels, the injected drug is diffused very slowly at a sustained rate of absorption. Therefore, it is highly effective in administering vaccines, growth hormones, and insulin, which require continuous delivery at a low dose rate.
Why can't you do a capillary puncture on the thumb and pinky finger?
The thumb has a pulse and is likely to bleed excessively. The pinky finger does not have enough tissue to prevent hitting the bone with the lancet.
What is the correct Order of Draw?
Blood Cultures, Light Blue, Red, Gold, Light Green, Dark Green, Lavender, Gray, Yellow

What do you do with your blood sample after a blood draw?
It depends on the sample. Some need to be kept cool (refrigerated), kept at room temperature, kept on ice, avoid light, put in the centrifuged, etc. Always check before you draw and always label your samples.