Small Needle Makes Arterial Blood Gas Sampling Less Painful

An exceptionally small needle helps to minimize discomfort and improve the patient experience in the collection of arterial blood gas (ABG) samples.

ABG sampling is an uncomfortable and often painful procedure for patients. Microsampler Protect helps to improve the collection of these vital blood samples, making it a less traumatic experience for the patient. Microsampler Protect requires only 220 µL of blood, which is collected in a capillary sampler using a 25-gauge needle.


Microsampler Protect, a product of Roche (Basel, Switzerland), also has a needle shield device that is used to safely remove the needle without the risk of injury, protecting healthcare staff from needle stick injury. Compliant with the new EU Health and Safety Regulations 2013 (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare), the Microsampler Protect has been the ABG sampler of choice for the last 15 years at the Lane Fox Respiratory Unit in St Thomas’ Hospital, London (United Kingdom) one of the UK’s leading respiratory departments.

The 14-bedded purpose-built Lane Fox Respiratory Unit is a national referral center, caring for patients with chronic respiratory failure. It provides specialist inpatient care, including invasive and non-invasive ventilation as well as supporting over 1200 patients in the use of non-invasive ventilation at home. ABG sampling is an important and common procedure every day on the unit. Dr. Nicholas Hart, clinical and academic director for the unit, explained, “High quality arterial blood gas analysis data are essential to determine patient management, and optimized care. The initiation and modification of invasive and non-invasive ventilation is based on these data.”

“The smaller needle in Microsampler Protect is less invasive, which is especially helpful in younger patients. It makes ABG sampling a quicker and less painful procedure, allowing us to perform it on children and adults without the use of topical anesthesia. The size and shape of Microsampler Protect means that you can hold it in one hand like a pen, which gives stability and accuracy. Furthermore, the small needle can be repositioned easily, without the need for a second entry point, if the radial artery is missed on the first occasion.”

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St Thomas’ Hospital, London