venous stasis

Medical term Routine Blood Collections

Slowed blood flow in the veins below a tourniquet. Prolonged stasis causes hemoconcentration and can alter results such as lactate, ammonia and calcium.

Sources

• Chang J, et al. Standards and Practice Guidelines for Venous Blood Collection: Consensus Recommendations from the Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine. Ann Lab Med 2025;45(4):343-357 (PMC12187494) · Annals of Laboratory Medicine via PubMed Central
• Nordin N, et al. Preanalytical Errors in Clinical Laboratory Testing at a Glance: Source and Control Measures. Cureus 2024;16(3):e57243 (PMC10981510) · Cureus via PubMed Central
• Nikolac N, Supak-Smolcic V, Simundic AM, Celap I. Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine: national recommendations for venous blood sampling (based on CLSI H3-A6). Biochem Med 2013;23(3):242-254 (PMC3900082) · Biochemia Medica via PubMed Central

Related terms

• hemoconcentrationRise in cell and protein concentration when plasma water leaves the vein, as with a tourniquet left on too…
• tourniquetBand tied 7 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in, about 4 to 5 finger widths) above the site to slow venous return so veins…
• vasovagal reactionReflex slowing of the heart and drop in blood pressure: pale, sweaty, nauseated or dizzy, sometimes…
• veinA vessel that carries blood back toward the heart under low pressure. Superficial arm veins are the usual…
• vein finderA transilluminator or similar device that lights up veins under the skin to help locate a hard-to-find vein.
• venipunctureEntering a vein with a needle to withdraw blood, usually at the antecubital area of the arm.
• ventricleOne of the two lower heart chambers: the right pumps blood to the lungs, the left to the rest of the body.
• whole bloodBlood with its cells and plasma together, kept unclotted with an anticoagulant; used for tests such as the…
• winged collection setShort needle with plastic wings and flexible tubing, used with a holder or syringe for small, fragile or…

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