Butterfly Needles Are Often Less Painful

A butterfly needle is used to access a superficial vein and can be used for drawing blood as well as for an IV injection. These needles are much easier to use and are much less painful for patients.

This is because of the winged tubing which allows for greater flexibility. If you need to draw blood from a patient with small veins or ones that are hard to see and feel, it’s best to use a butterfly needle.

Butterfly needles are available in a gauge bore range of 18 to 27. The most commonly used gauge bores are 21G and 23G, while extremely small gauge bores like 25G and 27G are rarely used because they cause the blood sample to clot, making it invalid to use for testing.

Since butterfly needles are often less painful than straight needles, you may encounter patients who specifically ask you to use a butterfly needle. What’s important is that you use the proper gauge to get the job done effectively, quickly, and, most importantly, as pain-free as possible.