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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Jul 29.
Published in final edited form as: Clin Biochem. 2012 Sep;45(0):1012–1032. doi: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2012.08.002
Bibliographic information
Overall rating		 Study*
Category (points deducted)		 Practice*
Category (points deducted)		 Outcome measures*
Category (pts deducted)		 Results/findings*
Category (points deducted)
– Author(s): Agos, MD; Lizarraga, R; Gambra, D; Maranon, A; Orozco, C; Diaz, E.
 – Year: 2008
 – Publication: Anales del sistema sanitario de Navarra
 – Affiliations: Hospital Virgen del Camino Pamplona, Spain
 – Funding: Internal		 – Design: (0)
Cross-sectional
Observational
– Facility/setting: (0)
Accident & Emergency Dept. in a tertiary hospital serving >200,000
– Time period: (0)
34 days (Sept–Nov 2006) — three uneven time periods assigned to 3 types of IV catheters
– Population/sample: (0)
1933 Adult (≥15) ED patients
A) 3 catheter groups:
1) ‘Protectiv’ (Teflon) N=475 (10 days)
2) ‘Protectiv plus’ (polyurethane) N=426 (9 days)
3) ‘BD-Nexiva’ (Vialone) N=684 (15 days)
B) Straight needle venipunctures
— N=384 (entire 34 day period)
— Comparator: (0)
1) Straight needle vs. IV start
– Study bias: (1)
No systematic bias noted, but did not provide data to control potential confounding by training, site of venipuncture, use of syringe or vacuum tubes		 -Description: (0)
Practices evaluated:
1) IV draws — 3 specific IV catheters (18 or 20 gauge)
2) Straight needle venipuncture (21 gauge)
– Duration: (0)
34 days over
3 months
– Training: (0)
Minimal
– Staff/other resources: (0)
Minimal — not described
– Cost: (0)
Not provided		 – Description: (0)
Hemolysis as determined by laboratory staff — no other description
– Recording method: (1)
Not described		 – Type of findings: (0)
Rates of hemolysis
– Findings/effect size: (0)
1) Straight needle vs. IV start
7/348 (2%) vs. 222/1585 (14%)
Other findings:
IV catheter size:
Gauge 18: 115/867 (13%)
Gauge 20: 107/708 (15%)
IV catheter type:
Teflon: 39/475 (8%)
+18 Gauge: 19/301 (6.3%)
+20 Gauge: 20/164 (12.2%)
Polyurethane: 77/426 (18%)
+18 Gauge: 51/243 (21.0%)
+20 Gauge: 26/183 (14.2%)
Vialone: 106/684 (15%)
+18 Gauge: 45/323 (13.9%)
+20 Gauge: 61/361 (16.9%)
– Statistical significance/test(s): (0)
Authors calculate ORs and 95% CI
– Results/conclusion biases: (1)
Usefulness of results is restricted by lack of information on staff drawing blood, site, and syringe vs. vacuum tube
Quality rating: 7 (fair)
 Effect rating: SubstantialRelevance: Direct 		Study (3 max): 2
As noted, lack of control for potential confounders		 Practice (2 max): 2 Outcome (2 max): 1
As noted, lack of information process		 Results/findings (3 max): 2
As noted, suffered from lack of sufficient information
*

Numbers in () by category headings reflect the number of points deducted from the maximum points for that column domain.