When should gloves be worn during a venipuncture?

Wearing gloves during a venipuncture is an essential practice to maintain infection control and protect both the healthcare professional and the patient. Gloves should always be worn during this procedure to create a barrier against bloodborne pathogens, which can pose a risk of infection through exposure to human blood. This practice helps ensure that any potential contaminants are kept from entering the patient's body and also protects the healthcare provider from any exposure to blood or bodily fluids.

Using gloves is part of Standard Precautions, which dictate that personal protective equipment should be employed whenever there is a possibility of contact with blood or body fluids, regardless of the patient’s health status. This approach is vital to safeguarding against the transmission of infectious diseases, making the consistent use of gloves not only a good practice but a required one.