which items are needed to obtain a capillary blood specimen

Before performing capillary blood sampling, every workstation should be fully equipped with the following materials ( 3, 20 ):

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What are the steps in collecting capillary blood specimens?

Steps in collecting capillary blood specimens include... - through the top of a microcollection tube device - by capillary action into a capillary tube What 2 ways are capillary blood specimens usually collected?

How to use a microtainer capillary collection device?

Lightly touch the microtainer capillary collection device (or filter paper) to the LARGE drop of blood. Collect drops of blood into the collection device by gently massaging the heel. Avoid excessive pressure that may squeeze tissue fluid into the drop of blood. Fill the microtainer tube (s) as needed, adhering to the order of draw.

Can capillary sampling be done on adults?

Capillary sampling from a finger, heel or (rarely) an ear lobe may be performed on patients of any age, for specific tests that require small quantities of blood. However, because the procedure is commonly used in paediatric patients, Sections 7.1.1and 7.1.2focus particularly on paediatric capillary sampling.

Why is capillary blood used for testing?

Capillary blood is often the specimen of choice for infants, very young children, elderly patients with fragile veins, and severely burned patients. Point-of-care testing is often performed using a capillary blood specimen.

How do you obtain capillary blood specimen?

The skin of the finger, heel, or another area is pricked with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a pipette (small glass tube), on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding.

What do capillary blood specimens contain?

A capillary blood sample contains unknown proportions of blood from venules, arterioles and capillaries (3). Capillary blood samples can also be contaminated to unknown extents by interstitial and intracellular fluid (39).

What two containers are used to collect capillary samples?

Capillary tubes are used primarily for the collection of samples for CBG determinations. They are inside the container and most of them are plastic. Microhematocrit tubes are small tubes, either plastic or glass that are used in frequently and have been largely replaced by microcollection containers.

What is the correct method for obtaining a capillary glucose blood sample?

Point-of-care measurement of blood glucose requires obtaining a drop of capillary blood by skin puncture using a single-use, auto-disabling lancet and applying a drop of blood to a specially prepared chemical reagent strip.

What is a capillary blood sample?

Definition. A capillary sample is a blood sample collected by pricking the skin. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin.

Which samples are collected first in a capillary collection?

If capillary blood gases are ordered, they are drawn first to avoid introduction of room air as much as possible. A specimen for blood count is collected before tubes containing other anticoagulants and additives.

What equipment is needed to perform a capillary puncture?

Capillary punctures require different devices than the typical venipuncture equipment. They include lancets, microcontainer tubes, microhematocrit tubes and sealants, and warming devices. Improper use of these devices may contribute to improper specimens and pre-analytical errors.

What transport container is used for capillary samples?

Various types of plastic microcollection containers (150 - 250 µL) are currently available and being used successfully to collect capillary blood from young children. Plastic containers are better than glass microhematocrit tubes, because the latter have been known to break, causing injury to laboratory personnel.

What are the containers used in the laboratory?

Lab ContainersBeakers & Graduated Beakers.Tins.Buckets & Basins.Barrels and Canisters.Vials & Capillary Tubes.Flasks & Erlenmeyer Flasks.Lab Bottles.Measuring cylinders.More items...

What are the 10 steps to taking a capillary blood glucose reading with a glucometer?

Place a drop of blood against the tip of test strip. Apply dry swab over the punctured site. Wait for reading on the glucose meter....​Discard all used items correctly and safely.Remove the lancet device cover carefully.Recap the needle. Remove it.Discard it into a container with a tight lid.

Which finger is most widely used for capillary collection?

Finger - Usually the third or fourth finger is preferred in adults and children. The thumb has a pulse and is likely to bleed excessively. The index finger can be calloused or sensitive and the little finger does not have enough tissue to prevent hitting the bone with the lancet.

What is a finger stick used for?

Fingerstick devices are devices that are used to prick the skin and obtain drops of blood for testing. There are two main types of fingerstick devices: those that are designed for reuse on a single person and those that are disposable and for single-use.

What is the composition mixture of the blood taken from a capillary puncture?

Capillary blood obtained for laboratory testing is significantly different from the usual venous blood tested. It is a mixture of venous, arterial, and capillary blood as well as interstitial and cellular fluids.

What is the difference between venous and capillary blood sampling?

Regarding pH and gasses, capillary blood is actually closer to arterial than venous blood. Compared to a venous plasma, capillary plasma contains higher concentrations of proteins, calcium and chloride, and lower levels of potassium, sodium, and urea nitrogen.

What is a capillary puncture used for?

Capillary blood sampling is becoming a common way to minimize the amount of blood drawn from a patient. The 10 or 20 microliters can be used to look for anemia, check blood sugar or even to evaluate thyroid function. The procedure is easier and less painful than traditional venipuncture which draws blood from a vein.

What test specimen is collected first following collection through capillary puncture?

3. Order of draw. With skin punctures, the haematology specimen is collected first, followed by the chemistry and blood bank specimens. This order of drawing is essential to minimize the effects of platelet clumping.

What chapter is capillary blood specimens?

Start studying Chapter 11 : capillary blood specimens. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.

How is a premeasured amount of reagent placed in a plastic reservoir?

A premeasured amount of reagent is placed in a plastic reservoir that can be punctured by a capillary tube so that the capillary blood specimen is released into the dilution fluid.

Is blood flow abundant after a puncture?

The blood flow (after the puncture) may not be abundant enough for an adequate sample

Why is capillary blood sampling important?

Capillary blood sampling is a medical procedure aimed at assisting in patient diagnosis, management and treatment, and is increasingly used worldwide, in part because of the increasing availability of point-of-care testing. It is also frequently used to obtain small blood volumes for laboratory testing because it minimizes pain.

What is the mixing procedure for blood gas analysis?

In the case of blood gas analysis, mixing can be performed as follows: After the capillary has been filled, the capillary end that was submerged in the drop of blood should be closed with the end cap.

How far is the vascular bed from the skin?

This limit is based on the fact that the minimum distance between the skin and perichondrium is 2.4 mm on the plantar surface and 1.2 mm over the posterior surface; the vascular bed of the skin lies 0.35-1.6 mm below the skin surface of the heel (3, 13, 14, 34).

What is the best site for a skin puncture?

Recommended skin puncture sites are the finger for adult patients and older children and the heel for infants and younger children. In young children, whether the finger or heel is pricked depends on the child’s weight and age, because the distance between skin surface and bone varies with age and body weight.

Can a healthcare worker rely on a crib card?

The healthcare worker must not rely on a bed tag, crib card or charts placed on the bed, nearby tables or equipment. All data must match the data on the sampling request form, and the name of the person who helped verify the patient’s identity must also be documented (3, 24). Recommendation 6: Verifying patient.

Where is a capillary puncture performed?

Procedure for Capillary Puncture of the Heel:  A heel puncture is performed on the lateral or medial plantar surface of the. foot. The area of the arch should be avoided, as should the posterior. curvature of the heel; a puncture in these areas could cause injury to the. underlying bone.

What residue is used to tie gauze around the foot?

the chlorhexidine residue before tying a piece of gauze around the foot.

How to stop bleeding from a puncture?

mix the blood.  Hold a gauze pad over the puncture site for a short time to stop the. bleeding.  Dispose of the contaminated materials and lancet in the appropriate waste. containers.  Place a band- aid on the patient’ s finger or have someone continue to hold. gauze on the finger.

How to make a puncture in your foot?

Allow it to air. dry.  Grasp the foot, and using a sterile lancet, press firmly against the heel to. make a puncture.  The first drop contains excess tissue fluid and must be wiped away. Collect the drops of blood into the collection device by gently squeezing.

Which part of the ear is used for capillary testing?

The finger is usually the preferred site for capillary testing in an adult patient. The sides of the heel are only used in paediatric and neonatal patients. Ear lobes are sometimes used in mass screening or research studies.

How to keep a child warm during capillary sampling?

keep the child warm by removing as few clothes as possible, swaddling an infant in a blanket, and having a mother or caregiver hold an infant, leaving only the extremity of the site of capillary sampling exposed.

When to apply firm pressure to the site to stop bleeding?

When the blood collection procedure is complete , apply firm pressure to the site to stop the bleeding.

Can you use a surgical blade for skin puncture?

DO NOT use a surgical blade to perform a skin puncture.

Can you do capillary sampling on ear lobe?

Capillary sampling from a finger, heel or ( rarely) an ear lobe may be performed on patients of any age, for specific tests that require small quantities of blood . However, because the procedure is commonly used in paediatric patients, Sections 7.1.1and 7.1.2focus particularly on paediatric capillary sampling.

What is capillary blood collection?

Capillary blood collection involves puncturing the dermis layer of the skin to access the capillary beds that run through the subcutaneous layer of the skin. While this collection method has been in use for many years, especially for blood glucose testing, transmission of hepatitis B virus from infected blood and accidental injuries is on the rise as the number of tests performed involving finger-stick devices expands. Here, Sharon M. Geaghan, MD, discusses how these infections and injuries occur and how to prevent them.

What are the risks associated with capillary blood sampling?

What patient safety risks are associated with capillary blood sampling? The lancing devices used to obtain a small sample of capillary blood, typically from patients' fingers, pose two principal risks: transmission of infectious diseases between patients and injuries related to the puncture device used to obtain the blood.

What is the highest risk activity for occupational exposure to blood and bodily fluids?

Even in an Iraq combat zone, data from an Air Force theater hospital showed that finger sticks were the highest risk activity for occupational exposure to blood and bodily fluids, representing more than 70% of all exposures.

Where is capillary blood obtained?

Capillary Blood. Capillary blood is obtained from capillary beds that consist of the smallest veins (venules) and arteries (arterioles) of the circulatory system. The venules and arterioles join together in capillary beds forming a mixture of venous and arterial blood.

What is the specimen of choice for a dermal puncture?

The specimen from a dermal puncture will therefore be a mixture of arterial and venous blood along with interstitial and intracellular fluids. Capillary blood is often the specimen of choice for infants, very young children, elderly patients with fragile veins, and severely burned patients.

Why do we collect arterial blood?

The most common reason for collection of arterial blood is the evaluation of arterial blood gases. Arterial blood may be obtained directly from the artery (most commonly, the radial artery) by personnel who are trained to perform this procedure and are knowledgeable about the complications that could occur as a result of this procedure. Arterial blood may also be obtained from a vascular access device (VAD) inserted in an artery such as a femoral arterial line or catheter.

What is the blood that flows from the capillary veins to the right side of the heart?

Venous Blood. Venous blood is deoxygenated blood that flows from tiny capillary blood vessels within the tissues into progressively larger veins to the right side of the heart. Venous blood is the specimen of choice for most routine laboratory tests.