A phlebotomist is preparing to perform venipuncture for blood collection from a 6-year-old patient. Which of the following needles should the phlebotomist use?

Choice A reason:
Mechanical safety is a critical aspect of laboratory inspections, especially when focusing on equipment maintenance logs. These logs are essential for ensuring that all mechanical equipment is functioning correctly and safely. Regular maintenance and inspection can prevent mechanical failures that could lead to workplace accidents or compromise the integrity of experiments.

Choice B reason:
Chemical safety is undoubtedly important in a laboratory setting; however, it is not the primary focus when the inspection is centered on equipment maintenance logs. Chemical safety would involve the proper storage, handling, and disposal of chemicals, which is a separate concern from the mechanical functioning of equipment.

Choice C reason:
Radiation safety is another vital area in laboratories that work with radioactive materials. However, the maintenance logs for equipment would not typically be the main focus of radiation safety inspections. Instead, radiation safety inspections would concentrate on ensuring proper shielding, monitoring, and training are in place.

Choice D reason:
Electrical safety is also essential, but similar to chemical and radiation safety, it is not the primary focus when inspecting equipment maintenance logs. Electrical safety would involve checking for proper wiring, grounding, and protection against electrical hazards.

Choice A Reason:
Shaking the tubes vigorously can cause hemolysis, which is the rupture of red blood cells, leading to inaccurate test results. It is not recommended as it does not provide gentle mixing and can damage the blood cells.

Choice B Reason:
Moving the tubes in a figure-eight motion is not a standard practice for mixing blood samples. This method may not provide the consistent and gentle inversion needed to mix the anticoagulant with the blood effectively.

Choice C Reason:
Rolling the tubes between the palms of the hands 4 to 8 times after collection is the recommended method. This technique allows for gentle and thorough mixing of the blood with the anticoagulant, preventing clotting without causing hemolysis. The number of inversions ensures that the anticoagulant coats the inner surface of the tube and mixes with the blood, which is essential for accurate laboratory results.

Choice D Reason:
Passing the tubes from hand to hand is not an effective method for mixing blood samples. This action may not provide the necessary inversion and can lead to inadequate mixing, resulting in clotted specimens.