Blood will be taken from a vein, usually from the inside of your elbow or the back of the hand. The health care provider will clean the area with a germ-killing product (antiseptic). An elastic band may be placed around your arm. The band helps apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the band to swell with blood. The health care provider will insert the needle into your vein. Blood collects into an air-tight container or syringe connected to the needle. While the blood is flowing into the container, the band is removed to restore circulation. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed, and the puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding. At the laboratory, your blood sample is mixed with a liquid called an antiserum, which contains substances that looks for the specific protein. | 
