Final answer:
The correct way to obtain a capillary blood collection involves a procedure known as capillary stick or capillary puncture, which is typically used when only a small quantity of blood is needed for testing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Capillary blood collection is done through a capillary stick procedure involving a puncture on the fingertip or earlobe, and blood is drawn into a small diameter glass tube by capillary action.
Phlebotomists, the professionals trained in drawing blood, will often perform the stick on a fingertip, an earlobe, or the heel of an infant.
An overview of the capillary blood collection method includes:
- Select the collection site, commonly the side of the fingertip or an earlobe.
- Clean the site with an alcohol wipe and allow it to dry.
- Use a lancet to puncture the skin.
- Wipe away the first drop of blood with a sterile gauze to avoid contamination with tissue fluids.
- Gently squeeze or massage the area to encourage blood flow.
- Allow the blood to fill the capillary tube by capillary action.
- After collection, apply pressure to the puncture site with a cotton ball or gauze to stop bleeding.
- Properly dispose of the lancet and any other used materials.
Blood collected this way can then be used for various medical analyses, such as those performed in medical or clinical laboratories.