How blood collection works
Select a sampling device
Wash your hands
Carefully wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds
Improve blood circulation
Rub your hands for at least 1 minute to make them warm and improve blood circulation
Disinfect the finger
Use alcohol pad to disinfect the finger from which you are taking the sample. Disinfect whole fingertip
Prick the fingertip
To prick the fingertip, firmly press the lancet against your finger – you should hear a clicking noise and feel light pain
Massage the pricked finger (optional)
Gently massage the pricked finger from palm to finger tip to improve blood flow from the wound. You can leave this step if you bleed well
Wipe away the first blood drop
Wipe away the first drop of blood with sterile gauze
Take a sample
Take the dried-blood-spot card and gently drip a drop of blood onto one of the circles. Touch the circle only with blood, not with the fingertip. Repeat on the second circle
Stop bleeding
After taking the sample, press sterile gauze gently on the sampling site and wait until bleeding stops. This should not take more than 2 – 5 minutes
Protect yourself
Cover the sampling site with band - aid to protect yourself and your environment from infection
Let the dried-blood-spot dry
After caring for the sampling site, let the dried-blood-spot card dry for at least 1 hour...
Pack the card
...then put the card into the plastic bag with desiccant
Fill in the study form
Enter data about the sample and your health on the project website
Send samples
Place the plastic bags with samples into pre-franked envelope and ship by standard post
Wash your hands
Carefully wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds
Improve blood circulation
Rub your hands for at least 1 minute to make them warm and improve blood circulation
Disinfect the finger
Use alcohol pad to disinfect the finger from which you are taking the sample. Disinfect whole fingertip
Prick the fingertip
To prick the fingertip, firmly press the lancet against your finger – you should hear a clicking noise and feel light pain
Massage the pricked finger (optional)
Gently massage the pricked finger from palm to finger tip to improve blood flow from the wound. You can leave this step if you bleed well
Wipe away the first blood drop
Wipe away the first drop of blood with sterile gauze
Take a sample
Take the Mitra sample carrier and gently touch the surface of the blood drop from above. Let the tip absorb until it is completely filled. Repeat with second tip
Stop bleeding
After taking the sample, press sterile gauze gently on the sampling site and wait until bleeding stops. This should not take more than 2 – 5 minutes
Protect yourself
Cover the sampling site with band - aid to protect yourself and your environment from infection
Close the Mitra tip and pack it
After caring for the sampling site, close the Mitra tip sampling carrier and place it in the plastic bag with desiccant
Fill in the study form
Enter data about the sample and your health on the project website
Send samples
Place the plastic bags with samples into pre-franked envelope and ship by standard post