SST Tube Downturn & Butterfly Sets: Best Practices & Duration

Question
how long do you spin down a sst tube and do you have to use a disgard tube when using a butterfly set?

Answer
Hi Gevonda.  At the hospital where I work, an SST tube is spun down at 4000 rpm for 10 minutes.  Some other places recommend only spinning SST tube for 5 minutes.  It depends on specific policy for where you're working.  When using a butterfly set, a discard tube isn't required, EXCEPT when drawing a blue top (sodium citrate) tube.  You always need to draw a discard tube when collecting a blue top, whether you use a butterfly or a regular needle.

Samantha