A capillary puncture may be performed in all of the following cases except:

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Capillary punctures are not suitable when a large amount of blood is needed, as capillary blood yields a smaller volume than venous blood. Capillary punctures are usually done when only a small amount of blood is necessary, such as in point-of-care testing. Capillary punctures may also be preferred when the patient has burns, skin irritation, or small or fragile veins at the antecubital site. Capillary punctures can be more challenging with cancer, geriatric, or obese patients, but they are not contraindicated in these cases.

A Capillary Puncture May Be Performed in All of the Following