When drawing blood from the line, what should you do with the running medication?

• A. Continue the running medication during drawing
• B. Pause the running medication for 2 minutes prior to drawing
• C. Pause the running medication for 5 minutes prior to drawing
• D. Pause the running medication for 10 minutes prior to drawing

Answer: (D)

Drawing blood from a line that is infusing medication risks the sample being contaminated or the drug altering lab results. Pausing the running medication long enough for the line to clear helps ensure the blood drawn reflects the patient’s true values without drug interference. The 10-minute pause provides the most reliable clearance given typical line volumes and infusion rates, reducing the chance that medication will appear in the specimen. After you’ve drawn the blood, resume the infusion and flush the line as your protocol requires. Shorter pauses may not fully clear the line, and continuing the infusion increases the risk of contamination and inaccurate results.