Intended for healthcare professionals

Letters

Capillary sampling is routine in Germany

BMJ 1995; 310 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.310.6986.1072 (Published 22 April 1995) Cite this as: BMJ 1995;310:1072
  1. A Bernhardt
  1. Senior house officer in anaesthetics Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust, Kettering NN16 8UZ

    EDITOR,—Capillary blood sampling for measurement of blood gas pressures and pH, described by Khavar Dar and colleagues, has been normal practice in Germany for many years.1 Arterial puncture is performed only when an indwelling line is needed. Use of a scalpel blade is unnecessary and dangerous. A blood lancet (Monojector lancet device, Sherwood Medical) provides enough blood for the capillary tube and can be used on the finger as well as the ear lobe.

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