How to Collect Blood Specimen from a Vein?

Healthcare facilities provide training for collection of blood specimen. Here are the 
basic steps that are necessary to collect a blood sample. 
 1. Wrap a tourniquet around the patient’s upper arm to stop blood fl ow,                
making veins easier to identify.
 2. Clean the puncture site with alcohol.
 3. Insert the needle into the vein with the bevel up.
 4. Attach the appropriate test tube to the needle. Allow the blood to fi ll the test 
tube.
 5. Remove the tourniquet to restore blood fl ow.
 6. Place a gauze pad over the site while withdrawing the needle.
 7. Apply fi rm pressure to the site until bleeding has stopped.

TEACH THE PATIENT

• Explain that

• The tourniquet may feel tight.

• The patient may feel a pinch or nothing at all when the needle is inserted 

into the vein.

• There might be a small bruise at the site. Keeping pressure on the site 

reduces the chance of bruising. 

• Taking anticoagulants (aspirin, Coumadin) may require keeping pressure 

on the site for more than 10 minutes to stop the bleeding. 

• The vein may become swollen after the test (phlebitis). The patient 

should call their healthcare provider and apply a warm compress to 

reduce the swelling

2- How to Collect Blood Specimen from

a Heel Stick ?

Several drops of blood are collected from the heel of a baby.

 1. Clean the heel with alcohol.

 2. Puncture the heel with a small sterile lancet.

 3. Collect several drops of blood in a small test tube.

 4. Place a gauze pad over the site.

 5. Maintain pressure until bleeding stops.

 6. Apply a small bandage.

TEACH THE PARENT

• Explain

• That the patient may feel a pinch or nothing at all when the lancer 

punctures the skin.

• There will be a bandage on the site for a short-time period. 

• That a small bruise might appear at the site.

3- How to Collect Blood Specimen

from a Finger(thumb) Stick?