Operator gives you a test load of glucose, usually a syrupy, sweet drink. Drink the entire solution in 5 minutes. Skin over the vein to be stuck is cleaned with alcohol or other antiseptic on a piece of cotton. Operator feels the vein to be used then punctures both the skin and vein in one quick stroke. The needle used is a sterile, disposable needle attached to a sterile, disposable syringe.
Operator withdraws the needle and transfers sample from the collecting syringe into sterile tubes.
Tubes are treated with an anti-coagulant chemical to prevent clotting. If blood is collected from a finger, heel or ear lobe, skin over the selected site is cleaned with an antiseptic. The operator quickly pierces the skin to a shallow depth. Blood is collected into a capillary pipette. See Appendix 4 for instructions on collecting a urine sample.