Health Tip: Preparing for a Blood Test

(HealthDay News) — Having blood drawn is a mainstay of a routine annual physical.

Never provided a blood sample? The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute describes what to expect:

A technician usually will draw blood from a vein in your arm. Less often, the sample is obtained from a finger prick.
The technician may ask you to make a fist, or tie a band around the upper part of your arm to make a vein in your arm stick out more, making it easier to insert the needle.
The needle that goes into your vein is attached to a test tube. The person who draws your blood removes the tube when it’s full, and the tube seals on its own. If you’re getting a few blood tests, the technician may fill multiple tubes. The needle is then removed.
If you’re nervous about the test, it may help to look away or to talk to someone as a distraction.