learn about fingerstick blood collection: 2 helpful videos to watch

If you're a visual learner, video provides ample opportunities to educate yourself about fingerstick blood collection. For patients, being able to understand the methods that are used and the reasons why they are chosen gives a sense of involvement in their care. For professionals, such videos can open new ways of working, provide further evidence of their own findings, and highlight changes and concerns as they arise. Here are three videos that provide excellent support and information about fingerstick blood draws.

Finger prick blood sampling 

For doctors or clinicians with patients that are nervous about moving to fingerstick collection at home, this fingerstick blood collection video can help alleviate concerns. A patient walks the audience through each step of the process in a calm and easy manner, sprinkling in humor and making the subject very approachable. The video covers all the major aspects of fingerstick blood collection, including the need for good hygiene, stopping cross-contamination, and how much blood is needed. The importance of properly packaging the sample and mailing the same day are also covered.

At home blood collection kit

Customized Blood Collection Kits are an important breakthrough in that they allow patients and participants to collect their own samples anywhere, at any time, with minimal training. This video walks through the process of using a blood collection kit, showing what all the included items are for, and making it clear how simple the process can be.

Lancets and Contamination Risks

The potential for contamination of samples and the risk of passing infections between patients are serious concerns for medical practitioners and lab technicians. The CDC and FDA highlight the need to use single use lancets and to practice good hygiene and waste disposal. It can be effectively used as part of a training package in any situation where multiple blood samples may be taken at any time, or where patients are aided in testing their blood.