Obtaining A Blood Sample; How To Lance - Zoetis AlphaTrak 3 User Manual

Obtaining a Blood Sample

The purpose of this section is to obtain a capillary blood sample from your pet.
Caution: Animal blood is a potential source of zoonotic diseases. We recommend wearing personal protective equipment when handling animal
blood. Please note local occupational health and safety regulations.

How to Lance

• Use the AlphaTrak 3 lancet to obtain a blood sample from your pet.
• Consult a veterinarian/veterinary surgeon for a recommended sampling method and instructions.
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1. Select the test site:
There are many sites to obtain capillary blood samples: the marginal ear vein in both cats and
dogs; paw pad in cats and dogs; leg callus, usually dogs; inner or outer lip, dogs only.
Warming the area will help increase blood flow. This can be done by:
• Gently rubbing the test site or
• Applying a warm (not hot) cloth to the test site. If using a wet cloth, place the cloth inside a
plastic bag to avoid diluting the blood sample.
2. Wash your hands and the test site with warm water and soap to ensure accurate results.
• Thoroughly dry your hands and test site.
3. Remove the round cover from the lancet and prick the test site.
Optional: a thin layer of petroleum jelly may be applied prior to lancing the site.
This can help the blood form into a droplet and avoid spilling into the hair. The
AlphaTrak 3 lancing device may be used to assist in obtaining a blood sample. For more
information on the lancing device follow the instructions included in your AlphaTrak 3 Starter Kit.
4. Gently apply pressure to the test site with sterile gauze or cotton wool to help stop
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