Use of Pediatric Size Phlebotomy Tubes in Adult Critically Ill Patients to Reduce Red Blood Cell Transfusions

Rate of Change in Hemoglobin (g/dL/Day) While in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

This will be calculated as the most recent hemoglobin prior to randomization minus the last hemoglobin prior to ICU discharge, death, RBC transfusion, clinical bleeding, surgery, or change of clinical status to comfort measures, divided by the number of days (rounded to the nearest 0.5) between these two values (crude estimate).

Time frame: from time of randomization to completion of study (up to 30 days after ICU admission)

Number of Participants Who Received a Red Blood Cell (RBC) Transfusion While in the ICU

Time frame: completion of study (up to 30 days after ICU admission)

Number of Participants With at Least One Inadequate Blood Sample for Laboratory Analysis

An inadequate blood sample is defined as any blood sample that requires recollection.

Time frame: completion of study (up to 30 days after ICU admission)

ICU Mortality

Time frame: completion of study (up to 30 days after ICU admission)

Total Phlebotomy Volume

The total phlebotomy volume is the total volume of blood collected over all days and is estimated based on the maximum volume needed for each type of blood test, as follows. In the pediatric tube arm, the volumes were 0.5 milliliters (mL) for hematology, 0.6 mL for chemistries (plasma), and 2.5 mL for coagulation tests. In the adult tube group, the volumes were 5.5 mL for hematology, 5 mL for chemistries (plasma), and 3.8 mL for coagulation. In both arms, tube volumes for lactate, immunology (serum), arterial blood gases, and blood cultures were 5 mL, 6.5 mL, 1 mL, and 10 mL, respectively.