Increasing demands for screening tests on blood donors, which require
a large number of undiluted samples, and the rising concern for the sa
fety of the phlebotomists have led to the development of a new blood s
ampling system. The new device was evaluated during the collection of
60 blood units, and compared with 50 control units collected using the
'cut and drip' method. The time required for both blood donation and
donor samples collection, blood component quality, coagulation factors
activation and haemolysis were studied. In addition, reports and reco
mmendations of Magen David Adom phlebotomists were evaluated after col
lecting 75000 units using the new device. Donor sample collection with
the new device was comparable and somewhat shorter than with the 'cut
and drip' method, while the blood unit collection time remained uncha
nged. There were no differences in plasma haemoglobin, factor VIII and
platelet yields and morphology scores in blood units and donor sample
s collected by the two methods. There were no reported instances of ne
edlesticks among phlebotomists using either method. The new device was
simple to operate, improved blood donor samples collection practice a
nd enabled the collection of as many undiluted donor samples as requir
ed for routine testing. In addition, the use of vacuum tubes ensured s
terility, safety and standardization of samples. The components provid
ed were comparable in quality to those prepared from units collected b
y other methods.