How to transfer blood to the card?

The following are the general steps to transfer blood to the card:

1. Preparation

• Collecting equipment: Prepare a sterile lancet for blood collection. If the blood is collected from a vein, you may need additional equipment such as a syringe or a vacuum blood collection tube.
• Cleaning: Ensure that the collection site (such as a fingertip or heel) is clean. If it is an adult, usually wash the hands with soap and water first. For a newborn, use an appropriate disinfectant to clean the heel according to medical procedures.
• Card ready: Take out the dried blood spot collection card and make sure it is in a clean and ready – to – use state.

2. Blood collection

• Capillary blood collection (common for small – volume blood collection):
  • Use a sterile lancet to make a small puncture on the fingertip (usually the side of the fingertip to avoid the most sensitive area) or heel (for newborns).
  • Gently squeeze the puncture site to allow blood to form a small bead. Do not squeeze too hard to avoid tissue fluid dilution of the blood.
• Venous blood collection (if required for a larger volume of blood):
  • Use a syringe or vacuum blood collection tube to draw blood according to standard medical procedures.

3. Transfer blood to the card

• For capillary blood:
  • Allow the blood drop to fall naturally onto the designated area of the collection card. Usually, the card has marked circular or square areas for blood spots. Try to ensure that the blood is evenly distributed in the area and avoid overlapping drops if multiple drops are needed.
  • If the blood does not spread evenly, you can wait a few seconds until the blood begins to soak into the card material (usually filter paper – like material), and then you can gently place another drop nearby if necessary. Do not blow on the blood or touch it with other objects to avoid contamination.
• For venous blood (if applicable):
  • If using venous blood, a small – volume transfer device (such as a micropipette) may be needed. Use a micropipette to accurately measure and transfer a small volume of blood (usually in microliters) onto the collection card in the same way as described above for capillary blood.

4. Drying

• Let the blood on the card dry naturally at room temperature. Avoid direct sunlight, high – humidity environments, or heat sources during the drying process. Usually, it takes a few minutes to half an hour for the blood spots to dry completely, depending on the volume of blood and environmental conditions.

It is important to note that all operations should be carried out in accordance with relevant medical standards and instructions to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the blood sample.