Capillary blood gas (CBG) collection requires special equipment not used for regular capillary collection, it includes:
CBG collection tubes are capillary plastic tubes of different sizes, generally 100 mm in length and a volume of 100 µL. They are coated with sodium heparin and have a green band marked to indicate so.
Upon collection, the tube is capped at both ends with plastic caps to prevent ambient air from mixing with the sample.
Stirrers are used to help mix the blood and anticoagulant. They are small metallic filings with magnetic properties and are often known as "fleas."
A magnet is used to move the magnetic filling inside the tube (flea) and help with the mixing of the specimen.
