Evaluation of an improved small gauge needle for venipuncture in children with difficult venous access: Impact on sample quality, phlebotomist satisfaction and patient pain perception

Background: Smaller needles gauge (G) may reduce pain and improve vein access in difficult venous access (DVA). Aims were to compare the performances of two Beckton-Dickinson (BD) Vacutainer® Blood Collection Sets in a pediatric setting: UltraTouch™ Push Button (UT-PBBCS) and Safety-Lok™ (SLBCS). Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were used to record venipuncture features, patient pain perception and phlebotomist difficulty score. Specimen quality was evaluated by hemolysis index (HI) on Roche Cobas® 6000. Results: SLBCS (21/23G) or UT-PBBCS (23/25G) were used in 211 (50.2%) and 209 (49.8%) subjects. Pain was associated with age (p < 0.0001) and was lower in UT-PBBCS (p = 0.0339). Difficulty was significantly associated with age (p = 0.002), not with needle gauge (p = 0.461) and it was 0.42 points lower in UT-PBBCS. HI was not associated with blood collection set (p = 0.385). Conclusions: UT-PBBCS globally performed better than SLBCS and could enhance phlebotomy and patient comfort, without affecting sample quality in pediatric patients with DVA.