RESPONSE TO VENIPUNCTURE FOR MONITORING IN PRIMARY-SCHOOLS

The feasibility and acceptability of collecting blood from children by venepuncture was assessed in a sample of 593 children from seven prim ary schools in Canterbury. Venepuncture is necessary to obtain blood f or the measurement of haemoglobin, ferritin, and cholesterol in line w ith Department of Health surveys in England. Return of consent forms w as 87%; 75% of parents in the total sample allowed their child to be t ested. Response rates differed between schools. Only 4% of eligible ch ildren refused to participate at the time of testing. In 22 (3.7%) chi ldren a blood sample could not be obtained or the volume was insuffici ent for analysis. There was a significant difference in the failure ra te between phlebotomists. Venepuncture in the school setting was techn ically feasible and acceptable. The reluctance of some groups in the c ommunity to participate may bias the sample.