OBJECTIVES Reduced pain sensitivity is widely reported to be a common feature of children with autism, yet this conclusion frequently has been based on anecdotal observations and questionable measures of pain. The aims of the study were to (1) characterize the behavioral response of children with autism experiencing a venepuncture using objective observational measures of pain and distress, (2)...

Introduction: Pain in neonates is largely underestimated and neglected. Pain experience can alter clinical outcome, brain development and subsequent behavior in newborns. Numerous newborns undergo blood sampling routinely in nurseries/NICUs and these procedures are often done without pain relieving measures. Heel lancing and venepuncture are two common procedures for blood sampling in neonates....

The feasibility and acceptability of collecting blood from children by venepuncture was assessed in a sample of 593 children from seven primary schools in Canterbury. Venepuncture is necessary to obtain blood for the measurement of haemoglobin, ferritin, and cholesterol in line with Department of Health surveys in England. Return of consent forms was 87%; 75% of parents in the total sample allo...

There is a recent upsurge of interest among health care professionals regarding the risk of accidental occupational exposure to HIV virus. We evaluated knowledge of virus carriage prevalence, needlestick injuries, venepuncture practices, and glove use among paediatricians in Wales and South West Regional Health Authorities. We also attempted to evaluate hepatitis B immunisation uptake in this g...

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is relatively unstable: optimisation of pre-analytical conditions, including specimen type, sampling time and storage conditions, is essential. We have undertaken a systematic review of these pre-analytical conditions. An electronic search of the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Centre for Research and Dissemination and Bandolier databases was undertaken. Of 5511 papers ident...

Dear Sir, Blood collection is the first link of the transfusion chain, which is of utmost importance for the quality and safety of transfusion treatment, as well as for donor satisfaction. Venepuncture failures and adverse reactions not only reduce the precious blood supplies available for transfusion treatment, but also discourage future donations1,2. Thus, each blood-collecting establishment ...