Final answer:
A blood draw in an infant should be performed with the assistance of a trained healthcare professional, such as a nurse or phlebotomist, due to their expertise in ensuring the safety and comfort of the infant.
Step-by-step explanation:
A trained healthcare professional should hold an infant during a blood draw to ensure safety and accuracy. Support from a nurse or phlebotomist is typically required.
Conducting a blood draw on an infant requires specialized care due to their delicate physiology. The individual holding the baby must be knowledgeable about infant homeostasis and able to manage any stress that the procedure may cause. In a clinical setting, a nurse or phlebotomist commonly fulfills this role. They have the training to provide the gentle restraint necessary to secure the infant while causing the least amount of distress.
Infants have a high risk of blood loss, even in medical analysis procedures like capillary blood collection, due to their small blood volume. The healthcare provider must also be vigilant of the potential need for fluid replacement, as infants are prone to dehydration, considering their kidneys are relatively immature at concentrating urine immediately after birth.
Proper holding during a blood draw is critical for ensuring the baby's safety, comfort, and the procedure's success, which is why the expertise of a medical professional is invaluable in such scenarios.