Step 4: Arrange all other materials, including those to be used for infusion
Materials for mixing factor:
- Bottles of powdered factor
- Bottles or syringes of diluent (the sterile water used to dissolve the factor powder)
- The double-ended transfer needle or needle-less transfer device
- Alcohol and cotton balls or alcohol pads (also called alcohol preps or wipes)
- Sterile plastic syringes (the size depends on the amount of diluent)
- Filter needle (if required with your brand of factor)
- If using the syringe transfer method (Alternate STEP 7), #18 or #20 needles
Materials for infusing factor:
- Tape (½ inch paper tape works well)
- Butterfly needle, 23 or 25 gauge (also called scalp vein needle or minicath)
- Alcohol and cotton balls or alcohol pads
- 2 x 2 gauze pads or dry cotton balls
- Tourniquet
- Band-Aid® style bandages
- Hard-sided sharps disposal container in which to put used needles and syringes
- Chlorine bleach
Guidelines:
- When storing equipment, keep it together in one place. The place should be clean, dry, and out of a child’s reach.
- Arrange the equipment in the order you will use it in a plastic tray or box.
- Choose the size of syringe based on the amount of diluent. A smaller syringe is easier to handle but may not be big enough to hold all the factor. It is okay to use more than one syringe. It is also okay to put the factor from more than one bottle in the same syringe. Just be sure it is the same brand of factor. Ask your hemophilia nurse for advice.
Caution: Do not use glass syringes since factor may stick to the glass.
- If you do not have diluent, call your HTC or doctor. Do not use tap water for diluent. Also do not use distilled water sold in jugs or water for contact lenses. Use only sterile water or sterile normal saline labeled “for injection.”
Figure 4-9: Materials for home therapy.
