Which of the following statements about capillary punctures is true?

Capillary punctures are primarily utilized to obtain small volumes of blood, making them suitable for various laboratory tests, including blood smears and white blood cell differentials. The procedure is favored in such cases because of the minimal amount of blood needed and the convenience of collecting it from peripheral sites, such as fingertips or heels. This technique is particularly valuable in situations where venipuncture might be more invasive or challenging, such as in infants or individuals with difficult venous access.

The other statements do not accurately represent the use of capillary punctures. For instance, they do not require a larger volume of blood compared to venipunctures; in fact, the opposite is true. Capillary punctures are not universally applicable to any adult, as certain conditions or anatomical considerations might make them unsuitable. Additionally, while they are often performed on infants, they are not exclusively limited to healthy infants, as capillary punctures can be performed on patients of various age groups, as long as it is clinically appropriate.