Alternate Names: Collecting a blood sample - venipuncture

How Performed: Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a tourniquet (an elastic band) or blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the tourniquet to distend (fill with blood). A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. During the procedure, the tourniquet is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.

How To Prepare: Preparation may vary depending on the specific test. Some tests require overnight fasting, taking or refraining from drugs, or changing eating habits for short periods of time. Most tests do not require special preparation. As with any blood test, the health care provider may limit certain foods or medications shortly before the test to assure an accurate sample.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child’s age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child’s age:

• infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
• toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
• preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
• schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
• adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How It Feels: When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, while others feel only a prick or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.

Risks: Risks associated with venipuncture are slight:

• excessive bleeding
• fainting or feeling lightheaded
• hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
• multiple punctures to locate veins

Why Performed: Blood is used by the body for transportation of oxygen, food, waste products, and other materials within the body. It is also used for regulation of body temperature, regulation of fluids, and acid-base equilibrium. Blood is made up of a fluid portion (plasma) and a cellular portion. Plasma contains various substances dissolved in the fluid. Serum is what remains when fibrinogen has been removed from the plasma (this is the fluid that remains after blood is allowed to clot in a test tube). The cellular portion consists primarily of red blood cells, but also includes white blood cells and platelets. Because blood is used for multiple functions within the body, tests on the blood or its components may give valuable clues in the diagnosis of a multitude of medical conditions.

Normal Values: Normal results vary with the specific test.

Abnormal Results: Abnormal results vary with the specific test.

Cost:

Special Considerations: Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others.