The first drop of blood should be collected from a heel stick.

• A. Not applicable
• B. False
• C. True
• D. Depends

Answer: (B)

In capillary blood collection from a heel stick, the first drop is wiped away to remove tissue fluid and skin contaminants that can dilute the sample and skew test results. The goal is to obtain a clean sample of true capillary blood, so you collect from the subsequent drops after a brief wipe with gauze. This helps ensure accurate analyte measurements and adequate sample volume for newborn screening or other tests. If you were to collect the first drop, sample quality could be compromised by contamination or dilution.