Thoughts from a Lab Rat

In almost every study, you will have at least one day of heavy blood draws more commonly known as PK day, kinetics or pharmakinetics. Depending on the study, you may have one or more of these days. Your blood will be drawn from six or seven to fifteen or more times. Unless otherwise specified, these will be straight sticks or a fresh needle each time. In the event the phlebotomist can’t get enough blood on the first try, someone else will try again with a new needle. Some studies will allow a heplock or also known as a heparin cannula. This is a plastic tube that is inserted into your vein and operates like a spigot. Each time it is used, it must be flushed with heparin, thus many sponsors do not allow heplocks.

It is highly recommended that subjects have at least 2 good veins on each arm which should minimize difficulties in drawing blood. In order to assure that you have minimal problems, you should drink a consistent amount of water everyday, in a study and during your normal life. Two liters a day is recommended for most people. On the day before, during and after a kinetic day, you should increase your water intake by sixteen to thirty two ounces. After a blood draw, hold your arm straight and the gauze with firm pressure for at least ten minutes. Just because it stops bleeding on the outside doesn’t mean it has stopped on the inside. This will reduce the chance of scar tissue. If your blood draw site becomes swollen, you should ice it and switch to a different vein or the other arm. Do not get your blood drawn after the vein has been iced. It can be painful and the vein will be constricted. If your veins have trouble popping to the surface, consider a squeeze ball or stress reliever. Once the blood gets flowing into the tube, relax your fist. On a final note, once your study is complete, use vitamin E oil or lotion to help heal the scarring. Cocoa butter lotion is also good.