Commercially prepared stainless microneedles for capillary microsampling [author]: Bechayda, Nichole Ann G., Borilla, Hadassah Lois G., Castor, Shayna Anne Joy T., Consigo,Jebb A., De Leon,Julie Fiona R. Katague, Kyle Nadine A., Law, Maria Jocel Desiree G., Montalbo, Gizelle Anne M., Roperez, Dana Angela V. Samatra, Louise Janele N., Vega, Paul Alexander P.

Includes Appendix

ABSTRACT
Blood sampling is a procedure commonly used to aid in the diagnosis of patients. One technique used is the capillary puncture wherein the blood sample is collected from the middle or ring finger via finger prick. However, the conventional lancets for pricking cause apprehension and anxiety among patients due to pain and needle phobia. As of recent, developments in medical care have turned to using microneedles to administer drugs and extract body fluids and are found more agreeable than low-gauged hypodermic needles. This experimental study aimed to determine the effectiveness of commercially prepared stainless
microneedles in blood capillary sample collection, which are minimally invasive and can be pain-free, in terms of capillary blood collection time and discomfort based on an approved pain assessment scale. To determine these parameters, a Crossover Randomized Control Trial was performed with participants selected by Convenience and Snowball technique sampling.
In terms of capillary blood collection time, the results-calculated using the paired t-test-indicate that microneedles are comparable to the feather lancets, generating a lower mean and standard deviation in time. The data gathered to measure pain or discomfort was treated with Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The Graphic Rating Scale (GRS) and Wong-Baker FACES pain rating scale exhibited a statistically significant difference wherein microneedles provided less pain as compared to feather lancets. These results suggest that microneedles can be an effective tool to alleviate pain and increase compliance in individuals undergoing capillary blood collection due to decreased pain and improved pain perception of the patients.
However, further studies are needed to measure compliance of a wider range of patients and microneedle development.
Keywords: Capillary blood, Capillary puncture, Feather lancet, Finger prick, Finger prick anxiety
and discomfort, Microneedles, Microsampling, Pain anxiety

School of Medical Technology