Mechanical punch apparatus and method of using same

A punch assembly for punching samples of dried blood spots (DBSs) from paper card samples includes: a base member, a cartridge and at least one cutting pin. The base member includes a bottom platform having an upper surface defining a track therein, an upper platform, at least one support post disposed between and spacing the bottom platform and the upper platform, a biasing element for biasing the upper platform in a direction away from the bottom platform, and a mechanism associated with the base member for moving the upper platform toward the bottom platform. The upper platform is slidably connected to the at least one support post such that the upper platform is movable therealong with respect to the bottom platform. The cartridge functions to hold an object to be punched and at least one cutting pin. The cartridge defines at least one hole therethrough for receiving the cutting pin. In addition, the cartridge is sized to be received in the track defined in the bottom platform. In use, the lever is moved against the upper platform to force the cutting pin through the object held in the cartridge to thereby create a punched object.