Capillary Sample
Alternate Names : Blood Sample - Capillary, Fingerstick, Heelstick
Definition A capillary sample is a blood sample collected by pricking the skin. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin.
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Why is the Test Performed?
Blood transports oxygen, food, waste products, and other materials within the body. It also helps regulate body temperature. Blood is made up of a fluid called plasma and cells. Plasma contains various dissolved substances. The cellular portion consists primarily of red blood cells, but also includes white blood cells and platelets.
Because blood has multiple functions, tests on the blood or its components can provide valuable clues in the diagnosis of a multitude of medical conditions.
Capillary blood sampling offers several advantages:
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It is relatively easy to obtain (it can be difficult to obtain blood from the veins, especially in infants).
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There are several collection sites on the body (heel, fingertips, etc.) and these can be rotated.
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Testing can be performed at home and with minimal training. For example, diabetics must check their blood sugar several times a day using capillary blood sampling.
There are some disadvantages to capillary blood sampling.
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Only a limited amount of blood can be obtained using this method.
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There are some risks associated with the procedure (see below).
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Capillary blood sampling may provide inaccurate results, such as falsely elevated sugar, electrolyte, and blood count values.
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