You were just called by the physician for a STAT ABG. Before entering the patient’s room, you must first gather all the necessary supplies. Which of the following is required in order to perform an arterial puncture?

To get this one right, you have to know what supplies are REQUIRED in order to collect an ABG sample. The key word here is: required.

You are required to use the following equipment: syringe, anticoagulant, transport container with label, for example, a biohazard bag. Keep in mind, you will also need a container with ice if you are unable to analyze the sample immediately. You also need antiseptic swabs, tape or a bandage, clean exam gloves, and sterile gauze.

A local anesthetic is not required— it is optional. A lancet is used for capillary sampling—not for an arterial puncture. And yes, you must wear gloves when sticking an ABG, but they do not have to be sterile gloves.

So by using what we know about collecting an ABG, as well as the process of elimination, we know that the correct answer has to be D.

The correct answer is: D. Anticoagulant