Hirani et al reported a tool for evaluation of a donor's vein. This can help to determine if a person is a suitable donor. The authors are from the Australian Red Cross Blood Service in Sydney and Melbourne.
Subject selection: potential donor
An evaluation is performed of both the patient's left and right arms.
Parameters:
(1) visibility of veins
(2) vein palpation
(3) vein size (suitability)
Parameter
Finding
Points
visibility of veins
not visible
0
difficult to see
1
moderately difficult to see
2
little difficulty
3
no difficulty
4
vein palpation
unable to feel
0
very difficult to feel
1
moderately difficult
2
little difficulty
3
no difficulty
4
vein size
very poor
0
poor
1
fair
2
good
3
very good
4
total score for each side =
= SUM(points for all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 12
Total Score
Category
0 to 7
poor
8 or 9
good
10 to 12
excellent
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