Applications and Uses for the babyLance™ Infant Heel Incision Device

Skin Puncture with Heel Incision Device

Newborn screening blood tests are usually performed when babies are 1–2 days old.

Micro-samples of blood are taken from the baby to test for certain serious medical conditions that may go undetected without such testing. This includes screening for PKU, a test done on all newborns.

Other tests performed using a heel incision device include but are not limited to:

• bilirubin
• CBC
• congenital conditions
• cystic fibrosis
• general chemistry
• glucose
• liver function tests
• sickle cell anemia
• thyroid
• toxicology
• venous blood gases

Blood sampling from infant heels under the age of three months is the most common technique for blood draws. The incision is done on the lateral or medial plantar surface of the foot.

The heel bone (calcaneus) should never be punctured as it can result in osteochondritis or osteomyelitis. As such, the incision should not be deeper than 2 mm.

Click here for instructions about how to use babyLance™ or see an online video demonstration of babyLance™.

Have more questions about babyLance™? Contact us by phone or e-mail, or visit our frequently asked questions (FAQs) section for babyLance™.