Pre-hospital phlebotomy for patients with urgent conditions: a review of the clinical effectiveness and guidelines

Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
Record ID 32011001190
English
Authors' recommendations: Although rapid assessment and diagnosis is key for early treatment of potentially life-threatening conditions such as MI and stroke, hospital ED acceptance of blood samples drawn by EMS staff is not a consistent standard of practice across hospitals. In this review, no evidence was identified to show whether pre-hospital phlebotomy or blood draw by EMS staff for expedited diagnosis and care improved the clinical outcomes for patients with urgent conditions such as MI or stroke. No recommendations were identified on whether pre-hospital phlebotomy should be used by EMS staff from identified international guidelines. Further well designed trials are needed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of performing phlebotomy in the pre-hospital setting for patients with urgent conditions and to identify processes that will improve the quality of blood sample by EMS staff, such as providing appropriate education and supplies to the EMS.
Details
Project Status: Completed
Year Published: 2010
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Canada
MeSH Terms
  • Blood Specimen Collection
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Phlebotomy
Contact
Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;
Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca
Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca
Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.