Capillary sample

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Capillary sample

Phenylketonuria test

Phenylketonuria test

Blood sample - capillary; Fingerstick; Heelstick

• 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)

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.

Review Date: 06/16/2005
Reviewed By: John Goldenring, M.D., M.P.H., Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.