Tips for blood collection
How to Improve Blood Flow? For cerascreen® blood tests, you only need a few drops of blood from your fingertip — but blood doesn’t flow equally well for everyone. Here are some tips to make blood collection easier.
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Stay Calm
Approach the blood sample collection calmly and take your time. If it doesn’t work: Don’t worry! We’ll gladly send you a new test kit. Simply contact our customer support.
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Drink Plenty of Fluids
Drinking enough fluids is not only healthy but also supports blood flow. It’s best to drink 1.5 to 2 liters of water the day before your blood test.
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More Warmth, More Circling
Sometimes it helps to stimulate blood flow. Keep your hand under warm water for a little longer. You can also rotate your arm frequently to encourage blood to flow into your hands.
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Find Your Favorite Finger
Some of our customers report that certain fingers work better for blood collection. From experience, the middle finger of the left hand works best for most people.
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Position the Lancet Correctly
Place the lancet at an angle on your fingertip. This helps pierce more tissue, which results in better blood flow.
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Rest Your Hand
Rest your hand on a tabletop. This makes it easier to press the lancet against your finger — allowing it to penetrate the tissue more effectively.
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Pull Back the Skin
After pricking your finger with the lancet, gently pull back the skin. This helps the wound open up slightly, improving blood flow.
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Massage Your Finger Correctly
Avoid pressing too hard on the fingertip. Instead, gently massage from the base of your palm towards the fingertip.
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Earlobe as an Alternative
If blood collection doesn’t work despite all these tips, you can try collecting blood from your earlobe. Our customer support team will be happy to explain how this works.
Tips for Dry Blood Samples: Here’s How It’s Done
Make sure the circles on the dry blood card are mostly filled. If there’s too little blood on the card, your sample may not be analyzable.
In the image below, you’ll see what a properly filled dry blood card looks like — and how it should not look like: