Capillary Punctures
Skin puncture or capillary blood collection involves puncturing the dermis layer of the skin
method of choice for ages 2 and under
can be done POCT or sent out
examples of POCT tests
hemoglobin, blood glucose,
cholesterol
make sure to note capillary puncture on outside lab reqs
know when to use capillary puncture
common sites for collection:
middle and great fingers
heel
prepare the site
collect the specimen
10 keys to capillary puncture
Order of Draw for capillary blood collection
•Blood gases
•EDTA tubes
•Other additive tubes
•Serum tubes
A high-quality specimen minimizes errors and possible re-draws, while enhancing customer satisfaction and patient care.
gloves
lancets
alcohol wipes
adhesive bandage
micro collection containers
cotton balls
puncture across the fingertip