Answer: A - Kendra has forgotten to gather a container for ice water. An arterial blood sample is placed in a container of ice water to keep blood gasses from escaping. The sample should be transported to the lab in the container of ice water and analyzed within ten minutes of being collected. A tourniquet is not required for arterial punctures, because of arterial pressure. Tincture of iodine is used to cleanse the puncture site.
Note that arterial blood samples should be obtained in strict anaerobic conditions and should be placed on ice and held at 0° C until analysis occurs. If any air bubbles introduced during the sampling procedure it will lead to overestimation of arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), and underestimation of arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2).
