Complete Blood Count (CBC): How It Is Done
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How It Is Done
Your health professional drawing blood will:
- Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
- Clean the needle site with alcohol.
- Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick may be needed.
- Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
- Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
- Put a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
- Put pressure to the site and then a bandage.
If this blood test is done on a baby, a heel stick will be done instead of a blood draw from a vein.
| Last updated: | September 12, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine, Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology |
| Editors: | Maria Essig, Tracy Landauer |
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