Capillary Punctures Flashcards
Definition of Hemolysis
Destruction of RBC
What do you use for capillary puncture?
Lancet
What happens when you excessively milk a finger during a skin puncture
Results in Hemolysis and contamination of the specimen
Definition of osteomyelitis
Bone and bone marrow inflammation
What causes osteomyelitis?
Deep penetration into the skin
How deep should a lancet be in premature babies?
0.85 mm.
How deep should a lancet be in full-term babies/ infants (42 weeks)?
Don’t exceed 2.0 mm.
How deep should a lancet be for adults
3.0 mm.
What do you do with the first drop of blood from a capillary collection
Wipe away with gauze, never alcohol
Why does the first drop of blood in a capillary collection need to be wiped away?
The first drop is contaminated with thromboplastin, skin particles, tissue fluid, which alters the tests
Definition of thromboplastin
A coagulation factor in the blood
When do you use a fingerstick to collect blood?
-when the patient is over two years old
-You can’t find a vein
-If the patient has Burns, scars, nonintact skin
-If the patient is severely obese, and you can’t find a vein
-If the physician only wants to dry small amount of blood
-If they need to save vein integrity for other procedures
-On a patient with low hemoglobin
For a fingerstick what finger do you use?
The third or fourth finger on the nondominant hand
Heel stick is used for what patients
On infants, and toddlers up to two years of age
How big should a lancet before he’ll stick on infants
2.0 mm.
