Drawing Blood Samples in the 24th century

Discussion in 'General Trek Discussion' started by Kilana2, Aug 14, 2019.

  1. Kilana2

    Kilana2 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    We've seen this and the changeling samples in DS9 without someone beeing 'tortured' with barbaric needles.
    How does it work? Is it like a hypospray? Obviously nobody feels it when his blood is drawn that way. Rom took a blood sample with sleeping Nog just to see if he's a changeling or not.
     
  2. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    And yet, in "The Deadly Years," Chekov complains about McCoy using "needles" to take blood samples.

    So I gather it was less painless in the 23rd century?

    (I rewatched the ep the other night and we never actually see the blood being taken, just Chekov griping about it afterwards.)
     
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  3. Timo

    Timo Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    In any case, it probably involves making holes, as McCoy thinks drawing blood without leaving holes should be impossible in "Obsession"...

    Might be the standard hypospray (which is used for the bloodsucking in, say, "The Adversary") simply delivers a numbing agent that it subsequently also withdraws, taking lessons from the common gnat. Might be the hole in question is made using special future techniques that close it afterwards (after all, dermal regeneration is an art form well mastered in Star Trek).

    Might also be 24th century devices use the transporter effect and would make McCoy gasp like he did in "Obsession".

    Timo Saloniemi
     
  4. NewHeavensNewEarth

    NewHeavensNewEarth Commodore Commodore

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    When we actually reach the 24th century, I doubt any blood extraction of any kind will be required. They'll look back on it as vampiric. A simple scan will probably suffice.
     
  5. C.E. Evans

    C.E. Evans Admiral Admiral

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    I think there will always be a need for blood samples. Sure, a tricorder scan can probably easily determine someone's blood type and whatever, but when trying to determine a cure for a disease even the best computer simulation probably can't beat actual experimentation with the real thing, IMO. Or it could even be a case that real blood samples might be considered more trustworthy for security reasons maybe.
     
  6. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    In "The Deadly Years," McCoy takes skin samples and marrow samples as well.
     
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  7. dahj

    dahj Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Maybe they'll get Theranos to work by then... :whistle:
     
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  8. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

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    You barely feel anything now when they draw blood. If the tech knows what they are doing.
     
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  9. Kor

    Kor Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Very short-range mini transporter.

    Kor
     
  10. Tosk

    Tosk Admiral Admiral

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    My mental version of the hypo contains many tiny "smart needles" that snake their way through fabric to enter the skin through multiple microscopic entry points.
     
  11. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    *Cut to Kirk yelling "ow!" every time McCoy jabbed him in ST'09*
     
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  12. Laura Cynthia Chambers

    Laura Cynthia Chambers Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Explainable by many things: McCoy jabbing him as opposed to pressing it gently, Kirk's over-sensitivity to pain as another side effect of the vaccine he was allergic to, Kirk being annoyed that McCoy interrupted his urgent message for Pike.

    I once included a scene in a fanfic in which Kelvinverse McCoy enlists Sulu to help him pressure test a bunch of hypos by pressing them against a test pad. (Chapter 25 of "Contemplative Silence", "Acceot No Substitutes", if you're interested.)

    In case tech fails, returning to less advanced tried and true methods can at least tell you something about the problem. Plus having actual samples allows you to experiment in the real world. A simulation based on scan results can't predict every possibility.
     
  13. FormerLurker

    FormerLurker Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    That may be where the actual needles came in. Taking marrow samples requires access to the middle of bones. Hyposprays seem like they don't have that kind of range, let alone the ability to pass through the outer, hard part.
     
  14. Shawnster

    Shawnster Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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  15. Kilana2

    Kilana2 Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 17, 2019
  16. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    Vulcans feel the pain and pretend they didn't.

    Klingons claim the pain is far more intense than it actually is, just so they seem braver.

    And the women of Sigma Draconis VI say "Pain! Pain! What is Pain?" :)
     
  17. eschaton

    eschaton Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Maybe the blood draw devices have a kind of tiny transporter that just beams the blood into the tube?

    Wait, that can't be it, given we see the tube fill up. Maybe it makes a micro-wormhole inside of your vein, so you just "bleed" directly into the closed container, with no needle involved?
     
  18. ToyBoxComix

    ToyBoxComix Lieutenant Commander Red Shirt

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    The opposite of a hypospray. A hypersuck.
     
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  19. Greg Cox

    Greg Cox Admiral Premium Member

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    Or maybe you just set the hypospray on "reverse"?
     
  20. at Quark's

    at Quark's Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    "I'm sorry captain, anaesthetics just don't work in the vicinity of warp nacelles, everybody knows that! <nasty grin>"