Instructions for Collecting a Capillary Blood Sample
for submission to a medical laboratory
Instructions for the process
- First read these instructions completely.
- Drink enough water and avoid coffee and sugary drinks to facilitate blood flow.
- Only perform the sample collection between Monday and Wednesday . Send the sample immediately afterward. This ensures it arrives at the lab in time before the weekend.
- For stability reasons, the sample must be transported at temperatures between 5 °C and 25 °C . Therefore, do not send the sample during severe frost or very high outdoor temperatures.
- Be sure to fill the tubes up to the upper mark, but not beyond. Otherwise, your sample cannot be evaluated.
Phase 1: Preparation for Optimal Retrieval
1. Prepare material
a. Wash your hands thoroughly.
b. Spread out all materials on a clean surface.
c. Pull the caps straight up from all tubes. Place the opened tubes upright on the table in front of you.
d. Take a close look at where the markings are located on each tube. You must fill each of the tubes exactly up to the top marking. If the marking is not reached or exceeded, the sample may not be evaluable.
Phase 2: Sample Collection
2. Start withdrawal
a. Place the tube in the pre-punched hole in the shipping box so that it stands securely when filling.
b. Warm your hand under warm water for at least 1 minute for good circulation . Dry it thoroughly.
c. Circle your arm 5–10 times with large movements while standing, to further promote circulation in the hand and fingers.
d. Disinfect the desired finger with the alcohol swab and let it dry briefly. The index or middle finger is particularly suitable.
3. Apply lancet
a. Hold the lancet vertically. Twist the protective cap once around itself and carefully remove it.
b. Place your hand palm up on a firm surface.
c. Place the lancet on the side of the fingertip. Press the lancet firmly until it triggers.
d. Wipe away the first drop of blood with a swab.
4. Take a blood sample
a. Stand up. Keep your hand as low as possible throughout the process. This allows the blood to flow well.
b. Gently massage the finger from the palm to the fingertip. Do not squeeze – this can cause hematomas and unusable samples.
c. First, let a clearly visible drop of blood form. Hold the finger over the tube.
d. Carefully wipe the drop off on the inner edge of the tube. Always touch the tube only after a drop of blood has formed – otherwise, the blood may clot prematurely. After two to three drops, the blood flows evenly along the inner wall of the tube.
e. Finish the collection when the upper mark is reached.Do not overfill the tube!
If there is too little blood, repeat the process with a second lancet on another finger.
5. End withdrawal
a. Press the lid firmly onto the tube until you hear a "click." The lid is pressed – not screwed.
b. Turn the closed tube upside down 5 times slowly. This mixes the blood with the additives. Do not shake!
c. Treat the wound with a swab and plaster. Dispose of the used material in the household waste.
If your test kit contains multiple tubes, repeat the process with the second tube.
Phase 3: Packaging and Shipping
6. Pack and send sample
a. Affix a barcode lengthwise (not crosswise) on each tube . The barcode must be fully visible. It must not protrude over the edge.
b. Place the tightly sealed tubes in the sample bag. Carefully remove the silver pull tab and seal the envelope tightly.
c. Then place the bag in the return envelope. Carefully remove the red pull tab and seal the envelope tightly.
d. Drop off the return envelope immediately after sample collection at a post office or place it in a mailbox with same-day collection. Postage is already paid.
Your sample is now on its way to our specialized laboratory for analysis. Now follow the further steps in the test procedure overview.
