Question 29

It is important to wipe away the first drop of blood.

Wiping away the first drop of blood during a heel stick for a PKU test is crucial as it helps eliminate contamination from tissue fluid, which can affect the accuracy of the test results.

A) wrap the site with a heel warmer for 30 min.

While warming the site can help increase blood flow, it is not a required step for the PKU test. The key factor is ensuring that the blood obtained is not contaminated, which is not addressed by warming the heel.

B) wipe away the first drop of blood.

Wiping away the first drop of blood is essential to ensure that the sample collected is not diluted or contaminated by interstitial fluid, which can lead to inaccurate test results, making this the correct answer.

C) keep a pressure dressing on the site for the day.

Applying a pressure dressing is typically not necessary for heel sticks, especially for a PKU test. Instead, ensuring that the sample is pure is of greater importance than maintaining pressure on the site.

D) target the central arch area of the foot for the least amount of discomfort.

While targeting the correct area is important for minimizing discomfort, it does not address the critical requirement of ensuring the accuracy of the blood sample. The main focus should be on the collection technique rather than the discomfort level.

Conclusion

Wiping away the first drop of blood is a fundamental practice in obtaining a reliable PKU test sample, as it helps prevent contamination. Other options focus on factors that are either not essential or do not directly influence the integrity of the blood sample, highlighting why Option B is the definitive answer.