Correlations between butterfly needle's gauge number(G) and the size of the needle?

Question

I sometimes have trouble with blood draw. One technician told me that I should ask for baby butterfly needles. Another one said the higher the Gauge numbers, the smaller the needles are. So, I should ask for a 25G butterfly needle?

Answer 1

Yes, the higher the number, the smaller the needle.  A 23 or 25 should do fine.  I'm not exactly sure about a 25, if its large enough, but ask the technician

Answer 2

Just adding some more advice to the previous answers:

Drink lots before you go for blood tests and flex your hand before giving blood as it will fatten the vein and make it easier to collect blood from.  At some blood banks, they give you a small ball to squeeze several times before they put the needle in.

Hope you have a better experience next time!

Answer 3

Yes, the larger the number, the smaller the needle.  This is also true of things like body jewelry sizes (if you are more familur with that, and many people are).

If you tell them "baby butterfly needle", they will understand.  The one I have my nurses use is a 23 gauge.  I am a cancer patient, and a very very very bad stick.

If you are getting stuck frequently, it may also help if you pay attention to what veins stick better.  For example, the vein in my wrist is the best one for me.  It hurts, but its the only one they dont have to dig for.  For you it might be your arm or hand or wherever.

Also, a warm compress for about 5 mins on top of the vein will help A LOT.