NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Clinical Patient CareMedium
A medical assistant is preparing to perform a capillary puncture on an infant for a routine blood screening. Which of the following sites is appropriate for this procedure?
- ACenter of the heel
- BEar lobe
- CBig toe
- DTip of the index finger
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Center of the heel
For infants, the safest and most appropriate site for capillary puncture is the lateral or medial plantar surface of the heel (center of the heel is a common description), as it avoids bone damage and has adequate blood flow.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. The ear lobe is not a standard or safe site for routine infant capillary punctures.
- C. The big toe is not a recommended site for infant capillary punctures due to risk of bone injury.
- D. The tip of the index finger is not recommended for infants due to the risk of bone injury and nerve damage.
Infant Capillary Puncture Site
For infants, capillary punctures are safely performed on the medial or lateral plantar surface of the heel to avoid bone injury and ensure adequate blood sampling.
- Heel is preferred site.
- Lateral or medial plantar surface.
- Avoids bone and nerve damage.
Memory trick: Heel is the Key for Kid's Blood.