Capillary blood can be collected from:
The ‘ring’ finger of a child or adult
Do not stick the thumb or index finger
as these are the most sensitive.
The heel of an infant up to one year old Care must be taken not to damage the heel by sticking it too near the edge or by holding it too forcibly
Make sure the puncture area is warm to allow the blood to flow freely. On cold days soak the hand or foot of an infant in warm water prior to collecting a sample.
1 Cleanse the puncture area with 70% ethanol. Allow the area to dry.
2 Using a sterile pricker or lancet, make a rapid puncture, sufficiently deep to allow the free flow of blood
3 Wipe away the first drop of blood with a dry piece of cotton wool and use the next few drops for the test. Do not squeeze too hard because this will result in an unreliable test result.
4 When sufficient blood has been collected, press a piece of dry cotton wool over the puncture area until bleeding stops.
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