The nurse is drawing a blood specimen from a client's central line. Identify the steps necessary to prevent transmission of infection while performing this procedure. Select all that apply.

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Blood and bodily fluids are considered hazardous materials and must be placed in containers identifying them as biohazards (eg, biohazard bag) (Option D). This alerts staff to take the necessary precautions to prevent infection transmission when handling the specimen. Other procedures to prevent transmission of infection include: Meticulous hand hygiene (Option C) Use of disposable gloves during collection and handling of specimen Cleaning the specimen bag with a disinfecting wipe Proper and immediate transport of specimen to the lab Avoiding placing specimen in clean areas (eg, nursing station) An appropriate antiseptic (eg, 70% alcohol) scrub of the catheter hub prior to use inhibits microorganism entry and prevents transmission of infection to the client (Option E). (Option A) When drawing a blood specimen from a central line, the nurse should discard the first blood drawn to prevent an inaccurate lab result, but this will not prevent the transmission of infection. (Option B) Flushing the line prior to specimen collection will clear any previous infusions and assist in checking patency. It is important to flush the line after collection to remove blood and prevent clotting. Neither action prevents infection transmission. Educational objective: When handling blood or body fluid specimens, the nurse should adhere strictly to protocols that will prevent the transmission of infection, including meticulous hand hygiene and use of gloves. All body fluid specimens should be transported immediately in a container labeled with the biohazard symbol.

The Nurse Is Drawing a Blood Specimen from a Client's