Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Book

Hematology and Oncology

  • Capillary Puncture

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Capillary PunctureAka: Heel Stick

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  1. Indications: Pediatric lab evaluation
    1. Hemoglobin
    2. Hematocrit
  2. Efficacy
    1. Less sensitive than venipuncture
    2. Hemoglobin and Hematocrit levels falsely elevated
  3. Sites
    1. Infants: medial or lateral plantar heal
    2. Older children: medial or lateral pulp of finger
  4. Technique
    1. Warm area with a moist towel increases blood flow
    2. Lancet size
      1. Age <6 months: 2.5 mm length
      2. Age >6 months: 5.0 mm length

Heel stick (C0419343)

ConceptsDiagnostic Procedure (T060)
EnglishHeel stick, Heel-prick sampling
Spanishpinchazo en el talon
Parent ConceptsCapillary specimen collection (procedure) (C0419342)
SourcesSCTSPA, SNOMEDCT
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)



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