Final answer:
Hemolysis can be caused by overmilking the finger during a skin puncture, resulting in excessive breakdown of red blood cells, leading to potential complications like jaundice and hemolytic anemia.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hemolysis may occur excessively by overmilking the finger during a skin puncture. When a finger is overmilked, excessive pressure and subsequent release during the puncture can damage the red blood cells (RBCs), leading to the release of their hemoglobin into circulation—a process known as hemolysis. This is significant because the breakdown of RBCs can cause complications such as an increase in plasma bilirubin leading to jaundice, and can contribute to hemolytic anemia. In addition, hemolysis can affect test results by damaging the constituents of the blood sample. It is vital to apply force appropriately to prevent hemolysis; where mild pressure can help to form a drop of blood, overmilking can apply too much force, akin to the force required to breach skin with a needle, resulting in damaged blood cells.