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Capillary sample - Risks

Alternative Names

Blood sample - capillary; Fingerstick; Heelstick

What the risks are:

  • Excessive bleeding
  • Fainting or feeling light-headed
  • Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
  • Scarring (occurs when there have been multiple punctures in the same area)
  • Calcified nodules (sometimes occurs in infants, but usually disappear by 30 months of age)
  • Damage to blood cells from this method of collection can sometimes cause inaccurate test results (and the need to repeat the test with blood drawn from a vein)

Special considerations:

Capillary blood sampling is very useful when very small amounts of blood are needed or when blood is very difficult to obtain, such as in infants. Many times, however, when a larger sample is needed, the blood must be obtained from a vein.

  • Reviewed last on: 5/1/2011
  • Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Babar T, Skugor M. Endocrinology. In: Carey WD, ed. Cleveland Clinic: Current Clinical Medicine 2010. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2010:section 4.

Lewandrowski K. Point-of-care testing: an overview and a look to the future. Clin Lab Med. 2009 Sep;29(3):421-32.

Hayrapetian-Dorsi L. Genetics. In: Custer JW, Rau RE, eds. Johns Hopkins: The Harriet Lane Handbook. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Mosby; 2009:chap 13.

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