Does Antiseptic Alcohol Cause Hemolysis?

Collectors routinely disinfect phlebotomy sites with isopropyl alcohol (IPA). We like to repeat a commonly held myth from the “data-free zone” that failure to allow the alcohol to dry before venipuncture causes patient discomfort, blood specimen hemolysis, and blood specimen dilution. The myth is addressed in the attached open access article, Sarmah D, Sharma B, Sharma D, Mathew S. Alcohol used as disinfectant before venipuncture does not lead to sample haemolysis or sample dilution. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016; 10: BC16-8. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2016/15967.7245. PMID: 27042446; PMCID: PMC4800511.