Performing Venipuncture and Capillary Puncture

Step-by-Step Procedure

1. 1

   Confirm the order and verify patient identity with two identifiers, matching the requisition to the patient.

2. 2

   Select venipuncture or capillary (fingerstick) collection based on the test ordered and the volume of blood needed.

3. 3

   For venipuncture: apply the tourniquet, select a site, cleanse with antiseptic, and draw using the evacuated tube system with the correct tube order for the tests ordered.

4. 4

   For capillary collection: warm the site if needed, cleanse, puncture with a single-use lancet, and collect into the appropriate microtainer, wiping away the first drop.

5. 5

   Apply pressure after the draw and check that bleeding has stopped before bandaging.

6. 6

   Label every tube at the patient's side before leaving the room — never label tubes after moving to a different patient or area.

7. 7

   Document the collection (time, site, any complications) and route the specimen per the lab's handling requirements (refrigeration, same-day pickup, etc.).

Quality Checkpoints

• ✓

  Patient identity is verified against the requisition before any collection starts.

• ✓

  Tube order of draw is followed correctly when multiple tubes are needed for one venipuncture.

• ✓

  Tubes are labeled at the patient's bedside, immediately after collection — never pre-labeled or labeled later.

• ✓

  Bleeding has visibly stopped before the site is bandaged and the patient is released.

Common Mistakes

• ⚠

  Leaving the tourniquet on for more than about a minute, which can hemoconcentrate the sample and affect certain lab values.

• ⚠

  Labeling tubes away from the patient (at a desk, after the next patient has already started), risking a mislabeled or mismatched specimen.

• ⚠

  Not wiping away the first drop of a capillary sample, which can be diluted with tissue fluid and skew results.

• ⚠

  Drawing tubes in the wrong order when multiple additives are needed, which can cause cross-contamination between additives.

On-the-Job Tips

• →

  Narrate what you're doing as you go ("small pinch now") — it reduces patient anxiety and keeps them from moving unexpectedly.

• →

  If a draw is difficult, don't attempt more than two sticks yourself before asking for help — repeated unsuccessful attempts are harder on the patient and more likely to produce a poor sample.

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