Possibly daft question for any phlebotomists around...

[flowertea]

Are all blood draws the same - as in are some practitioners better at getting the best quality 'samples' than others? In terms of actual blood, I do not mean in terms of how easy it is or comfort for the patient etc.

I know it's likely a silly question but I need to get a blood test for my baby daughter. It's a genetic test which has a 20-30% chance of 'missing' the diagnosis they think she has. I have choice of different places to do it and I am wondering if it matters how experienced the person is with blood tests on babies. Would the quality of the blood sample affect the likelihood of it picking up what it needs to, or is all blood just blood and it doesn't matter?

All blood is blood would be my answer (nurse with far too many years of taking bloods)

My daughter had to have a genetic blood tests, our appointment was at the hospital as it had to be done by a certain team in paediatrics due to her age, so hopefully you will see a similar team.

The error rate will be related to the test itself, not the blood sample.

Not a phlebotomist but I get a lot of blood drawn. 😂 No, it should all be the same. Only thing that would make a difference is if they made an error (incorrect volume of blood or wrong vial used or wrong label). But I don’t think you would be able to gauge who is more likely to not be paying attention to their job.

Also even if you did get a bad draw or wrong tube, this would just mean it would need to be taken again as it would be rejected by the lab and not tested at all.

Absolutely this

My.teeny newborn (just under 5lbs) had to have a blood test and they had a specific neonatal phlebotomist. She was amazing, so skilled. They gave him sugary water to distract him!

I work in a hospital lab testing blood, not genetics though. You can get a better or worse quality blood sample eg The sample could become heamolysed if it wasn't taken well. But that would only affect certain tests. For genetic testing that wouldn't matter. There will still be genetic material in the sample. As long as they got the volume of blood needed, and put it in the right blood tube it will be fine. The low rate of detection will be to do with the test itself not how the sample is taken.
I hope the test goes ok for your little one

Thanks everyone.
Yes I think the error rate is with the test itself, or the condition. The condition can be 'mosaic' apparently - I understand this means affecting some cells and not others.

Would haemolyzed matter in this case @TheGirlWithTheArabStrap ? I was assuming the more 'useable' blood then the more genetic material?

Just want to give the best chance of detecting possible. I don't know how will be taking the blood, the waiting list for her referral to genetics was 8 months so I went privately and it's them who have requested the bloods and I need to find somewhere to do it. Trying to find out if I need to look around for the best place or I can just go with whichever private GP can do bloods on a baby.

I dont think haemolysis is a problem for genetic testing as it is just the red cell splitting open. I don't think it changes the amount of genetic material available for testing. The red bloods cells don't have a nucleus which is where the DNA is.

Ah thanks @TheGirlWithTheArabStrap