Final answer:
True, squeezing the finger excessively during blood sample collection can dilute the blood with interstitial fluids or introduce contaminants, leading to inaccurate lateral flow test results.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is true; excessive squeezing of the finger can indeed dilute the blood with interstitial fluids and potentially disrupt the test results. When a finger is squeezed too hard during a blood test, particularly one that utilizes lateral flow technology, it could cause the tissue fluids, which may include swab particles if a swab was used, to mix with the blood.
In lateral flow tests, it's critical to have a controlled sample being examined to ensure that the reagents in the test can interact appropriately with the target antigen or substance. If the sample is diluted or contaminated, the calibrated sensitivity of the test might not yield a correct result. If in the case of blood glucose monitoring, squeezing the finger too hard could cause an inaccurately high or low reading, which may affect a patient's treatment decisions.