The process of obtaining a blood sample for testing is called venipuncture.
Your doctor or another healthcare provider will take blood from a vein, usually from your inner elbow or the back of your hand. First, they’ll sterilize the area with an antiseptic. They will then wrap an elastic band around your arm to allow blood to fill the veins.
Then, they’ll insert a needle into your vein. The blood will be collected in an attached vial. Once the blood has been collected, the plastic band will be untied and the needle will be removed from the vein. Pressure will be applied to the site of the needle entry and a bandage will be applied if necessary.
For infants and young children, a small cut may be made on the arm and a test strip or slide used to collect a small sample of blood. The area is then cleaned and bandaged if necessary.
Once collected, the blood is sent to a laboratory for analysis.