A system for locating a central venous catheter, comprising: a central venous catheter comprising one or more lumens extending therethrough adapted to extend from a proximal portion outside an access site into a patient's vein to a distal end within a venous system of said patient; a locating device (26, 78, 96, 114) extending through one of said lumens of said central venous catheter, a proximal portion of said locating device extending proximally from said proximal portion of said central venous catheter, and a distal portion of said locating device being disposed adjacent said distal end of said central venous catheter, said locating device being removable from said central venous catheter after said central venous catheter is navigated and positioned within said venous system; a biocompatible fluid disposed within said lumens of said central venous catheter; and a light emitting element disposed along said distal portion of said locating device, said light emitting element thereby being adapted to direct light radially away from said locating device, said light being visible to the naked eye through tissues of said patient from outside said patient to navigate said central venous catheter through said venous system; characterized by a conductive member made of a metallic material electrically connected to an ECG machine, a distal portion of said conductive member being exposed to said biocompatible fluid within one of said lumens of said central venous catheter or blood within said patient adjacent said distal end of said central venous catheter, said conductive member thereby being adapted to transmit an intravascular ECG signal to said ECG machine to position said central venous catheter within said venous system. a central venous catheter comprising one or more lumens extending therethrough adapted to extend from a proximal portion outside an access site into a patient's vein to a distal end within a venous system of said patient; a locating device (26, 78, 96, 114) extending through one of said lumens of said central venous catheter, a proximal portion of said locating device extending proximally from said proximal portion of said central venous catheter, and a distal portion of said locating device being disposed adjacent said distal end of said central venous catheter, said locating device being removable from said central venous catheter after said central venous catheter is navigated and positioned within said venous system; a biocompatible fluid disposed within said lumens of said central venous catheter; and a light emitting element disposed along said distal portion of said locating device, said light emitting element thereby being adapted to direct light radially away from said locating device, said light being visible to the naked eye through tissues of said patient from outside said patient to navigate said central venous catheter through said venous system; characterized by a conductive member made of a metallic material electrically connected to an ECG machine, a distal portion of said conductive member being exposed to said biocompatible fluid within one of said lumens of said central venous catheter or blood within said patient adjacent said distal end of said central venous catheter, said conductive member thereby being adapted to transmit an intravascular ECG signal to said ECG machine to position said central venous catheter within said venous system.