Direct comparison
Arterial Line vs Central Line: Supplies & Setup
Arterial line vs central line as devices: attached pressure or infusion systems, CDC replacement intervals and when NHSN counts an artery catheter as central.
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How do Arterial line, Central line compare side by side?
The table below compares Arterial line, Central line across 11 procurement-relevant dimensions, from where the tip sits through source.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Arterial line | Central line |
|---|---|---|
| Where the tip sits | Peripheral arterial catheters are usually inserted in the radial artery; femoral, axillary, brachial and posterior tibial arteries are also used (CDC 2011 guideline, Table 1). | Terminates at, in or close to the heart, or in one of the great vessels, and is used for infusion, withdrawal of blood or hemodynamic monitoring (CDC NHSN, January 2026). |
| Typical catheter length | Peripheral arterial catheters are listed at under 3 inches (CDC Table 1). | CDC designates catheters by vessel type, life span, insertion site, tunneled or not, length and special characteristics; a central venous catheter is a designated type, not one fixed length. |
| What the attached system does | Connects to a pressure-monitoring system: transducer, tubing, continuous-flush device and flush solution (CDC pressure-monitoring recommendations). | Connects to infusion lumens and administration sets; the NHSN definition also covers a central line used for hemodynamic monitoring. |
| What may run through it | CDC recommends against dextrose-containing solutions or parenteral nutrition fluids in the pressure-monitoring circuit (Category IA). | Used for infusion; CDC administration-set guidance applies (see the replacement row). |
| Component replacement (CDC 2011 guideline) | Transducers at 96-hour intervals, with the tubing, continuous-flush device and flush solution replaced at the same time (Category IB). Arterial catheters are replaced only when clinically indicated, not routinely to prevent infection (Category II). | Administration sets: no more frequently than every 96 hours, but at least every 7 days, for continuous use not involving blood or lipid products. |
| Sterility and transducer type | Keep all components of the pressure-monitoring system sterile (Category IA); use disposable rather than reusable transducer assemblies when possible (Category IB). | Sterile technique applies throughout; see the CLABSI and central line kit guides for kit contents. |
| Infection profile in CDC guidance | Low infection risk; rarely associated with bloodstream infection (CDC Table 1, peripheral arterial catheters). | Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is the NHSN surveillance event tied to this device class. |
| NHSN central line status | Not a central line, except an arterial catheter whose tip is in the pulmonary artery, aorta or umbilical artery. NHSN states neither device type nor insertion site decides the status. | A central line by NHSN definition when the tip location and use criteria are met, including some devices that are not ordinary central venous catheters. |
| FDA classification (21 CFR) | Intravascular catheter families: 880.5200 (short-term catheter, under 30 days, to sample blood, monitor blood pressure or administer fluids) and 870.1200 (diagnostic catheter to record pressures, sample blood or introduce substances). Both Class II. The applicable section depends on the specific device labeling. | Same two regulation families; the applicable section depends on the specific device labeling. |
| Supply set to specify | The pressure-monitoring set: transducer, pressure tubing and continuous-flush assembly (see the arterial line tubing guide). | The infusion side: lumens, caps and administration sets, plus the insertion kit if one is stocked (see the central line kit guide). |
| Source | CDC Guidelines for Prevention of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections (2011, updated October 2017), https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/media/pdfs/Guideline-BSI-H.pdf; 21 CFR 880.5200 and 870.1200, eCFR. Read 2026-10-31. | CDC NHSN Patient Safety Component Manual, Chapter 4 (January 2026), https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/pscmanual/4psc_clabscurrent.pdf; CDC 2011 guideline, https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/media/pdfs/Guideline-BSI-H.pdf. Read 2026-10-31. |
Common questions
Common questions about Arterial line vs Central line
Is an arterial line a central line?
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Usually not for surveillance purposes. CDC NHSN lists arterial catheters as not central lines unless the tip is in the pulmonary artery, aorta or umbilical artery, and says neither the device type nor the insertion site decides the status; tip location and use do.
Can a central line be used for pressure monitoring?
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NHSN defines a central line as a catheter in or near the heart or a great vessel used for infusion, withdrawal of blood or hemodynamic monitoring, so monitoring is one of the recognized uses.
How often are the pressure-monitoring transducer and tubing replaced?
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The CDC 2011 guideline recommends replacing transducers every 96 hours, with the tubing, continuous-flush device and flush solution replaced at the same time (Category IB).
Going deeper
