test, blood test for diseases? it depends on the hospital, I guess.
AIDs/HIV/ Sexual Diseases, be sure you are not anemic. a diabetes, kidney disease, or liver disease is a major consideration.
--Use CLEAN, sterile blades/needles. I personally use razors, because I'm not qualified for phlebotomy, and they are sharp and easy to maneuver quickly and carefully. I always use a new razor for a new person, making sure that the blade has been kept clean and that it is still in brand-new condition. If there's a SPECK of rust, it's not used. I use only clean, individually wrapped blades. Before I make a cut or any contact at all if possible, I take a flame, whether from a candle or from a lighter (which I like to avoid, but doesn't matter much), and heat the blade, concentrating on the edge. I usually do this until it about burns my fingers unless I'm holding with pliers or some such tool. Then I wipe the residue off with a clean cloth; a clean shirt, tissue, or lens wipe is sufficient. Only when I'm sure that my blade is clean to I bring the edge into contact with flesh. I'm almost too careful at times with my blades.
--Use as sharp and sturdy a blade as possible. An old, dull blade will be cause more damage and pain than you'd care to have usually. Not to mention, a worse wound is an infection screaming to occur. Beat up blades may also have small metal filings from being chipped off. Rust is also bad... It was just a tiny bit of rust from a piece of barbed wire than ended up putting me into knee surgery when I was little. And the doctors didn't like when little Ryan ended up on their operating table and beat the shit out of them, gifting them with lovely broken noses and faces, bruises, claw and bite marks, and scars they probably have to this day. Just use a clean, new, sterile blade. Don't use your bloodletting utensils for anything other than bloodletting unless you're experienced in sterilizing -- but make it a point not to anyways. It rules out a few unneeded variables.
--Stay away from veins and arteries unless you are absolutely sure and qualified for what/where you're cutting into. When going at my usual area on the arms, I stay away from the underside of the arm if possible. Most vessels are deeper on the top. Good places have been shared as being on the back of the shoulder, lower arm (not sure about upper, as I do it at the lower), top of hand at base of thumb, top of wrist, thigh (I've heard inner thigh? -- Does this hurt much more than other places, anyone?), and there are other popular spots, but I don't remember.
a shot glass full. is the usual amount.
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