How long should a tourniquet be left on during blood collection?

The duration a tourniquet should be left on during blood collection is crucial for patient safety and for obtaining the best quality specimen. Leaving a tourniquet on for longer than 1 minute can lead to hemoconcentration, which may falsely elevate levels of certain analytes in the blood sample. This could ultimately lead to inaccurate lab results and inappropriate treatment decisions.

A tourniquet should generally be applied no longer than 1 minute to ensure the integrity of the blood sample while still allowing for adequate vein engorgement to facilitate easy blood draw. If the tourniquet is left on too long, it not only affects the test results but can also cause discomfort to the patient, increasing their risk of complications such as hematoma formation.

Options suggesting a longer duration, such as 2 minutes, 5 minutes, or even 30 seconds, do not align with the best practices in phlebotomy, where the focus is on minimizing potential complications and ensuring accurate lab results.