No influence from topical application of EMLA cream before blood sampling on routine clinical chemistry and haematology measurements.

Blood samples were taken from both antecubital veins in ten healthy volunteers. One side was anaesthetized beforehand with EMLA cream covered with an occlusive dressing for 1 h and the other side served as a control. 19 routine clinical chemistry and haematology measurements were made. There were no clinically relevant alterations in any of the measurements. It is concluded that EMLA cream can be used to anaesthetize normal skin before blood sampling without any risk of distorting the results of the analyses of the blood.