CHAPTER 7

CAPILLARY PUNCTURE

ALSO KNOWN AS SKIN PUNCTURE

CAPILLARY PUNCTURE

a method that uses a lancet to make a small incision into the capillary bed of the skin to obtain a small volume of blood specimen.

LANCET

These are sterile, sharp instruments that are intended for one time use only. They are designed for use in making cuts in the skin for finger or heel puncture.

LASER LANCET

This is a type of lancet that produces a small hole in the skin by vaporizing water in the skin. This eliminates the risk of sharp injury because cauterizing the skin is not necessary.

FINGER AND HEEL

SITES THAT USED IN CAPILLARY PUNCTURE

MICROCOLLECTION CONTAINER

this container is a small plastic tube used to hold blood specimen

collected in the capillary puncture

MICROHEMATOCRIT TUBES AND SEALANTS

These are narrow bore tubes that are made of either plastic or glass. They are typically used for hematocrit determinations. They can hold 50 to 75 uL and filled by capillary action. One end is sealed with sealants made of clay or plastic.

MICROSCOPE SLIDES

These are used for blood films for hematology determinations.

WARMING DEVICES

These are used to increase the blood flow seven fold by warming the puncture site.

CAPILLARY BLOOD GAS EQUIPMENT

This is a special equipment used for collecting capillary blood gas (CBG) specimen, which contains CBG collection tubes, stirrers, magnet, and plastic caps.

ARTERIAL BLOOD

Is the bright red blood found in the pulmonary vein, left chamber of the heart, and the arteries. It is the oxygenated blood in the circulatory system.

VENOUS BLOOD

Is the blood that travels from the peripheral veins passing through the venous system then through the right chamber of the heart. This is dark red in color because it is deoxygenated.

CAPILLARY BLOOD

Is the preferred specimen for infants, young children, elderly patients, and patients with severe burns. It is extracted from the venules and arterioles found in the capillary bed.

INTERSTITIAL FLUID

Fills the spaces around the cells, filtered from the blood capillaries, and drained away as lymph.

INTRACELLULAR FLUID

Is found inside the cells. It facilitates the movement of fluid in the membrane and blocks the entrance of unwanted materials

1. Capillary blood gas specimen (CBGs)

2. EDTA specimens

3. Other additive specimens

4. Serum specimens

ORDER OF DRAW IN CAPILLARY SPECIMENS

ROUTINE BLOOD FILM

Is a blood test that is used to check abnormalities in the blood cells.

THICK BLOOD SMEAR PREPARATION

used to determine if the patient has malaria, which is diagnosed by its presence in the peripheral blood smear.

CAPILLARY BLOOD GAS SPECIMEN

By heel punctures recommended for infants and small children. The blood samples are collected on the same site as routine capillary puncture specimens.

NEONATAL BILIBURIN COLLECTION

used to help determine any liver disorder in infants.

NEWBORN SCREENING

done as part of the routine check for infants to determine inborn disorders such as phenylketonuria, hypothyroidism and

galactosemia, and cystic fibrosis.

NEWBORN SCREENING BLOOD SPOT COLLECTION

done 24 to 48 hours after the baby is born, in which a few drops of blood are collected through heel stick to determine disorders that are not apparent at birth and could lead to disability or

even death