Results of using Luer-Lok access device for clinics, intensive care units, and emergency services with high pre-analytical errors: analysis of 491.850 samples

Abstract

Objectives The effectiveness of the Luer-Lok™ Access Device (LL) with the intravenous catheter (IVC) on sample rejections, which is used to prevent primarily hemolysis in the emergency department (ED), clinics, and intensive care units (ICU), was examined. Methods A total of 491.850 samples of eight months from Amasya University Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin Training and Research Hospital were investigated retrospectively. Inpatient, intensive care unit and emergency department samples were included in the study. Pre- (BLL) and post-Luer Lok (ALL) rejection of the samples analyzed. In the BLL period, 3,463 rejection samples out of 253,818 (1.36%) in the September-December period of 2020; in the ALL period, 1819 rejected samples from 238,032 (0.76%) in January-April 2021 were analyzed for all reasons. Results It was determined that the use of LL significantly reduced all-cause sample rejections. In addition, a significant decrease was observed in the rates of hemolysis and clot-related rejection thanks to LL. Conclusions According to our study data, in patients with IVC with the LL device, the pressure brought by the syringe is mainly avoided, and reliable blood collection is achieved, similar to the routine vacutainer blood collection apparatus, and hemolysis- and clot-related sample rejections are largely prevented.