Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

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What is the purpose of using a tourniquet during venipuncture?

To reduce pain
To engorge veins
To avoid contamination
To stabilize the needle

The correct answer is: To engorge veins

Using a tourniquet during venipuncture primarily serves to engorge veins, making them more prominent and easier to access. When the tourniquet is applied, it temporarily restricts blood flow in the area where the venipuncture will occur, causing the blood to pool in the veins. This engorgement helps healthcare professionals identify suitable veins for blood collection, especially in patients with smaller or more difficult-to-palpate veins. This is essential for successful venipuncture and reducing the number of attempts needed to find an accessible vein. The other options may relate to aspects of venipuncture but do not accurately capture the primary purpose of a tourniquet in this procedure. For example, while reducing pain can be a consideration in venipuncture, the application of the tourniquet doesn’t specifically aim at that; rather, it prepares the site for easier access. Avoiding contamination is more about aseptic technique than the use of a tourniquet, and stabilizing the needle falls under proper technique rather than the purpose of the tourniquet itself.