After making the incision on a finger for a fingerstick, what is the correct procedure?

Wiping away the first drop of blood after making an incision for a fingerstick is important because it helps to remove any tissue fluid or contaminants that may be present on the skin's surface. The first drop often contains these impurities, which could potentially alter lab results. By removing this initial droplet, you ensure that the subsequent blood sample taken is more representative of the patient's actual blood composition.

In medical practice, allowing blood to flow freely following an incision provides an accurate sample, but without addressing the first drop, there may be inaccuracies in testing. Applying alcohol to the incision after it has been made is unnecessary and could introduce more contaminants. Similarly, placing a bandage immediately after the puncture does not allow sufficient blood to flow for a proper sample and is not typically part of the immediate procedure following a fingerstick. Thus, the action of wiping away the first drop is a standard and critical step in ensuring reliable results in blood testing.