Onsite Health Diagnostics

Choosing the Right Modality for On-Site Biometric Screenings: Fingerstick, Venipuncture, or Tasso?

At On-Site Health Diagnostics (OHD), we believe that one size doesn’t fit all — especially when it comes to biometric screenings. The right collection modality can impact everything from employee participation to data accuracy, turnaround time, and clinical follow-up.

So how do you choose between fingerstick, venipuncture, or newer devices like the Tasso self-collection system?

Let’s break it down.

🖐️ Fingerstick Collection

What it is:

A small lancet prick is used to collect capillary blood (typically 40–80 microliters) from the fingertip.

✅ Pros:

• Quick and minimally invasive
• Ideal for point-of-care testing (immediate glucose, total cholesterol, and blood pressure results)
• Requires less setup and fewer supplies than venipuncture
• Lower cost per participant
• Works well in high-volume or short-duration events

❌ Cons:

• Limited test menu (not suitable for hormone panels, CBC, thyroid, or specialty labs)
• May not be as clinically accurate for certain analytes (especially lipid subfractions or calculated ratios)
• Difficult for cold hands, calloused fingers, or dehydrated participants

Best for:

• Wellness-only screenings with basic metrics
• Events where time or logistics are constrained
• Populations hesitant about needles

💉 Venipuncture (Phlebotomy)

What it is:

A trained phlebotomist draws venous blood from the arm using a standard blood collection tube system.

✅ Pros:

• Gold standard for clinical lab testing
• Broadest test menu (CBC, CMP, hormone levels, thyroid, PSA, HbA1c, Vitamin D, etc.)
• Enables reflex testing — automatically running additional panels from the same sample when red flags appear
• Highest data quality for long-term risk stratification

❌ Cons:

• More invasive and time-consuming
• Requires a phlebotomist and medical waste handling
• Slightly higher per-participant cost
• Participants with poor veins may be difficult to draw

Best for:

• Employers transitioning to self-funded plans who need full clinical risk insight
• Events tied to medical plan premium incentives
• Populations with a high prevalence of chronic risk

📦 Tasso Device (Capillary Self-Collection)

What it is:

A wearable, vacuum-sealed device that adheres to the upper arm and collects capillary blood without a needle puncture.

✅ Pros:

• Self-administered and nearly painless
• Great for remote workforces or “screen-from-home” options
• No need for a nurse or phlebotomist onsite
• Collects enough volume for lab-based testing (within test menu limits)

❌ Cons:

• Limited analyte compatibility (not suitable for CBC, large panels, or immediate results)
• Requires shipping to a lab, adding 1–2 days for results
• Training needed for proper placement and collection
• Higher per-unit cost compared to fingerstick

Best for:

• Remote or hybrid populations
• Events with a “screen-at-home” offering
• Employees hesitant about in-person testing

🧠 So… Which One Should You Choose?

Recommendation:

• Use venipuncture for deeper clinical panels or pre-self-funding risk modeling.
• Deploy fingerstick at basic wellness events or as a first-touch offering.
• Leverage Tasso for follow-up screenings or hybrid teams needing flexibility.

🔄 OHD’s Flexible Screening Programs

We offer all three modalities — and even combinations of them — based on your program goals, clinical targets, and employee population.

Need help choosing what’s best for your workforce? Let’s talk.

📨 info@onsitehd.com
📍 610 Coit Rd, Suite 200, Plano, TX 75075
📞 877-366-7483