We recently discovered that our Nuclear Med techs are drawing patient's blood, mixing with 100 units of heparin to prevent clotting while they prepare for procedure then inject back into the patient. They also use heparin when centrifuging to tag white blood cells. There is no second person validation that the correct amount of heparin has been drawn up and no documentation that patient received heparin. Our Radiology NM is new to the position and is wondering what practice other facilities are doing with these processes?

1. Do Nuc Med techs have someone do a second source verification for amount of heparin drawn up? Who is the second source (i.e. another tech or RN)?
2. Are techs documenting in MAR that heparin was given and how much?

I would love to hear what other institutions are doing with this process. Thank you!

Carol Labadie
Medication Safety Officer
Vidant Medical Center
Greenville, NC