Fitness Testing

Blood Tests

description / procedure: A venous blood sample is usually taken from the front of the arm near the elbow joint. The blood can then be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Small pinprick blood samples can be taken from any place, often it is from the finger tip or earlobe.
analysis: A large number of measures can be made from venous blood samples, including glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, iron. From pinprick samples, lactate and glucose are the common measures.

equipment required: Syringes, needles, cuff, ice and container for storage, bandages, alcohol swabs. For pin prick measures, small scalpel or lancets are available.

comments: Venous blood sampling must be performed by qualified personnel. You can get blood testing done by your doctor or pathology service (usually requires a doctor's referral).
qualifications: Some institutions and hospitals run short phlebotomy courses, which enable the person to gain qualification to take venous blood samples. To take small capillary blood samples using the pinprick method does not require any particular qualification. Training in this is sometimes provided in sport science university courses.