Capillary Puncture

Aka: Capillary Puncture, Capillary Blood Specimen, Heel Stick

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II. Indications: Pediatric lab evaluation

  1. Hemoglobin
  2. Hematocrit

III. Efficacy

  1. Less sensitive than venipuncture
  2. Hemoglobin And Hematocrit levels falsely elevated

IV. Technique

  1. Sites
    1. Infants: medial or lateral plantar heal
    2. Older children: medial or lateral pulp of finger
  2. Site preparation
    1. Warm area with a moist towel increases Blood Flow
  3. Lancet size
    1. Age <6 months: 2.5 mm length
    2. Age >6 months: 5.0 mm length
  4. Additional measures
    1. Consider using VBG syringe for blood collection
      1. May prevent specimen clotting
      2. Swaminathan and Fisher in Herbert (2020) EM:Rap 20(8): 4

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