Our policy is heelsticks only for neonatal bilirubin levels, and fingersticks only for POC blood glucoses (any age). All other labs must be drawn from venipuncture.
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Tara Doherty, MSN, RN, CPEN, TCRN
Pediatric Emergency Nurse
NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
New York, NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-29-2025 09:58 AM
From: McKenzy McMullen, BSN;RN;CEN;CPEN;TCRN
Subject: Pediatric Capillary Blood Specimens
Good morning!
Is anyone completing a fingersticks on patients less than 1 year of age? Our current lab policy requires all patients less than 1 year of age to have a heelstick for capillary blood specimens (microtainers and POCT), which is according to their lab accreditation requirements. Elsevier (citing WHO Guidelines), which is what we follow for nursing procedures, states that it is acceptable to perform capillary draws on patients greater than 6 months old.
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McKenzy McMullen, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, CEN, CPEN, TCRN
Nursing Professional Development Practitioner
Parkview Health
Fort Wayne, IN
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