Preparation for Paediatric Blood Test

Your child requires a blood test as requested by your GP.

You will need to attend Clinic 34, which is located in the Addenbrookes Treatment Centre (ATC).

If your child is over 1 year of age you can prepare their arms and hands with a special numbing cream called Emla. This will need to be applied at home to help shorten the amount of time you need to spend at the hospital.

If your child is under 1 year, Emla cream is not required.

Please see information below regarding the application of Emla.

How to apply Emla cream

• Please ask your GP to prescribe your child Emla cream for this procedure Alternatively you can purchase this from your local pharmacy or chemist.
• Apply the Emla cream on the inside of both elbows (where you would normally have a blood test) and on the top of both hands - please see the diagram below. If your child is at an age where they may place their hands in their mouths just apply the cream to the inside of the elbows.
• The cream is to be applied approximately 1 hour before the blood test.
• Apply a blob of cream about the size of a 20p piece.
• Do NOT rub it in.
• Place the transparent dressing provided by the GP directly over the cream which allows the cream to spread underneath.
• If you don’t have enough dressings for all areas, you can use cling film to wrap around the cream.

Watch to see if there is any reddening or irritation around the cream. If you are concerned, remove the cream.

Please contact Clinic 34 on 01223 348903 if you are having difficulty obtaining numbing cream. Thank you.