Why is capillary puncture the preferred method of obtaining blood from infants and young children
Infants have small blood volume
Removal of large quantities of blood quickly can cause cardiac arrest
Venipuncture can be difficult
In what situations are capillary punctures an appropriate choice for older children and adults
Available veins are fragile or being saved for other procedures
Several unsuccessful venipuncture and the requested test can be collected via capillary
Pt has thrombotic or clot forming tendencies
Pt has intense fear of needles
No accessible veins
To obtain blood for point of care testing (POCT) procedures
The lancelet device for a capillary puncture should be positioned how?
Perpendicular to the fingerprint
T/F
You must always wipe away the first two drops of blood with a capillary draw
False
Just the first
Where can you collect capillary draws from?
Ring and middle fingers
Sides of heel
What is the order of draw for capillary tubes
Lavender
Green
Mint green
Grey
Gold
Red
Lavender capillary tubes have what additive?
K2 EDTA
How many times should you mix a lavender capillary tube
10x
What are lavender capillary tubes used to test?
Hematology
Are lavender capillary tubes whole blood, serum, or plasma
Whole blood
Green capillary tubes have what additive?
Lithium heparin
What kinds of tests are green capillary tubes used for
Chemistry
Are green capillary tubes for whole blood, serum, or plasma
Plasma
Mint green capillary tubes have what additives?
Lithium heparin and gel
How many times should you invert a green or mint green capillary tube?
10x
In a lavender capillary tube, clotting of blood is ok
Nope
A grey capillary tube contains what additive?
NaFl/Na2 EDTA
A grey capillary tube is used for what tests?
Glucose testing
How many times should you invert a grey capillary tube
10x
Gold capillary tubes have what additives?
Clot activator and gel
Do gold capillary tubes use whole blood, serum, or plasma
Serum
How many inversions should you perform for a gold capillary tube?
5x
Red capillary tubes contain what additive?
None
Red capillary tubes are used for what kinds of tests?
Chemistry, serology, blood bank
