How To Collect Your Blood Spot Sample

Collecting a blood spot sample is simple, and submiting a good sample simplifies things for you. By following the instructions below or provided in your test kit, you can help ensure accurate, timely, and reliable results from your test.

This Kit Includes

Blood Collection Card
(Please complete proper collection on all included blood collection cards)

Single-Use Lancet

Alcohol Pad

Sterile Gauze Pad

Adhesive Bandage

Biohazard Bag
(with desiccant silica gel pack)

4 Key Steps:

1. Drink water before collection

2. Fill out card(s) (Name, DOB, DOC)

3. Provide enough blood

4. Return your sample

Collection Instructions:

Step 1: Fill Out Card

Completely fill out information requested on the card. Open the blood card flap to expose the collection circles, careful not to touch the collection circles.

Step 2: Wash Hands

Wash hands with warm water for at least 30 seconds, then shake hands vigorously for 15 seconds to encourage blood flow to your fingers.

Step 3: Sanitize Finger

Clean your fingertips with the alcohol pad. It is best to use the middle or ring finger of your non-dominant hand.

Step 4: Use Lancet

Take the lancet and twist off the cap. Press the lancet tip firmly into the side of your finger until the needle ejects with a “click”.

Properly dispose of lancet after use. For information about safe disposal of single- use lancets, visit the FDA’s website at: http://www.fda.gov/safesharpsdisposal.

Step 5: Start Blood Flow

Keeping your hands below your heart, wipe away the first drop of blood with the gauze pad. Once the drop is wiped away, massage finger toward the fingertip to get a large drop of blood and be ready to apply to the blood collection paper.

Step 6: Drip Blood

Drip blood to the center of the circle. The bottom of the blood drop can touch the collection paper, but not your finger.

Step 7: Check Circles

One drop sufficiently fills a circle. The circle doesn’t need to be completely filled, so do not layer by adding blood drops to a circle that has blood or apply a blood drop to the edge of a circle (to avoid overlapping).

Step 8: Let It Dry

Blood should soak through to the back side of each circle of the blood collection paper. Without closing the blood card, lay it on a flat surface and allow the blood collection paper to air-dry at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.

Step 9: Return Sample

Tuck the flap into the card to close the dried blood card. Place the card into the biohazard bag, along with the desiccant pack. Ensure the biohazard bag is completely sealed.

Tips for Proper Blood Collection

1. Drinking water promotes blood flow. Be sure to drink water before collection so you are not dehydrated while performing collection.
2. Do not perform collection immediately after smoking.
3. Washing and warming your hands under warm water will help promote blood flow to your hands.
4. Promote adequate blood flow by swinging your arms by your side or by exercising beforehand.
5. Keep collection device and hands below your heart during collection for best blood flow.
6. To prevent specimen contamination, do not touch any of the blood collection circles with your finger before or after blood collection.
7. Do not use blood card if it is damaged or expired (expiration date shown on back side of blood card).
8. You may need more than one fingerstick. Repeat these tips between each fingerstick.

What Not to Do

  • Do not rub, dab, or smear. Allow one full drop to form and gently fall into the center of each circle.
  • Do not allow multiple drops in the same circle (no overlapping).
  • Do not use heat to assist drying.
  • Please Note – Do not use materials other than the lancets included in your test kit. If you require additional lancets or would like assistance with your collection, please contact our Client Relations team.

Prepare for Shipping

  • Your Date of Birth is written on the completed collection card using the MM/DD/YYYY format.
  • The Date of Collection is written on the completed collection card using the MM/DD/YYYY format.
  • The completed collection card is sealed inside the specimen bag, along with the desiccant pack.
  • The specimen bag is placed inside the kit box.
  • The box is placed inside the pre-paid return shipping bag.
  • The return shipping bag is completely sealed.

Ship return mailer with the collection samples via the shipping service printed on the return mailer (USPS, FedEx, or UPS).

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