American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Histotechnician Certification Practice Exam

What is the primary risk associated with performing a finger stick in patients with swollen fingers?

1. Increased pain from the puncture

2. Reduced blood specimen quality

3. Higher chances of infection

4. More difficulty in puncturing the skin

The correct answer is: Reduced blood specimen quality

The primary risk associated with performing a finger stick in patients with swollen fingers is that it can lead to reduced blood specimen quality. When fingers are swollen, this often indicates inflammation or fluid retention, which can alter the composition of the blood. Factors such as increased interstitial fluid or vascular congestion can affect the concentrations of various analytes, potentially leading to inaccurate test results. Additionally, swollen fingers may make it challenging to obtain the proper volume of blood needed for testing, further compromising the specimen integrity. While increased pain, higher chances of infection, and more difficulty in puncturing the skin may be considerations, these risks are generally secondary to the primary concern of specimen quality. Pain may be experienced regardless of the condition of the finger, and while there is always a risk of infection with any puncture, it does not rise significantly due to swelling alone. The difficulty in puncturing the skin may occur, but the focus on specimen quality emphasizes the importance of obtaining an accurate and reliable sample for testing.