Capillary Blood Sampling from the Finger

As the development of point of care testing devices improves, the uptake of capillary blood sampling from the fingertip across consumer groups and health professionals is increasing. The method promises to be a relatively safe and efficient method for monitoring patient health and obtaining research data. However, if not performed well, this simple technique can result in unreliable data and unsafe practices with a biological hazard. In this chapter, notes from the experiences of training undergraduate coursework and postgraduate research students in the method of capillary blood sampling from the fingertip are described to inform those considering the implementation of this method in teaching or research environments.