Small Gauge Needle reduces discomfort for patients and protects staff from Needle Stick Injury during Arterial Blood Collection

The exceptionally small needle of Roche MICROSAMPLER PROTECT helps to minimise discomfort and improve the patient experience in the collection of arterial blood gas (ABG) samples.  Compliant with the new EU Health and Safety Regulations 2013 (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare), the unique design of MICROSAMPLER PROTECT also protects healthcare staff from needle stick injury, making it the ABG sampler of choice for the last 15 years at the Lane Fox Respiratory Unit in St Thomas’ Hospital, London.

The 14-bedded, purpose-built Lane Fox Respiratory Unit provides specialist inpatient care, including invasive and non-invasive ventilation as well as supporting over 1200 patients in the use of non-invasive ventilation at home. ABG sampling is an important and common procedure every day on the unit.  Dr Nicholas Hart, Clinical and Academic Director for the unit, explained: “High quality arterial blood gas analysis data are essential to determine patient management and optimised care.  The initiation and modification of invasive and non-invasive ventilation is based on these data.

“MICROSAMPLER PROTECT requires only 220µL of blood, which is collected in a capillary sampler using a 25 gauge needle,” Dr Hart continued. “This small gauge needle is more comfortable for patients compared to other ABG samplers on the market, which have 22-23 gauge needles.”

“The smaller needle in MICROSAMPLER PROTECT is less invasive, which is especially helpful in younger patients.  It makes ABG sampling a quicker and less painful procedure, allowing us to perform it on children and adults without the use of topical anaesthesia.  The size and shape of MICROSAMPLER PROTECT means that you can hold it in one hand like a pen, which gives stability and accuracy.  Furthermore, the small needle can be re-positioned easily, without the need for a second entry point, if the radial artery is missed on the first occasion.”

MICROSAMPLER PROTECT also has a needle shield device that is used to safely remove the needle without the risk of injury, protecting healthcare staff from needle stick injury.