A lancet is a small, sharp medical instrument primarily used to obtain a tiny blood sample for monitoring blood glucose levels. This device creates a small puncture in the skin, allowing for quick and efficient collection of capillary blood.
Getting Ready to Lancet
Before lancing, prepare the area and gather all necessary materials. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, then dry them completely to prevent contamination. Assemble your supplies on a clean surface, including a new lancet, a lancing device, a blood glucose meter, test strips, and a sharps container for disposal. An alcohol swab can be used to disinfect the puncture site, but ensure the skin is fully dry afterward, as alcohol residue can affect test results.
Carefully load a fresh, sterile lancet into your lancing device by inserting it until it clicks into place. Many lancing devices offer adjustable depth settings, typically ranging from one to five or higher, with higher numbers indicating a deeper puncture. Adjust this setting based on your skin type and the required blood volume, with thinner skin generally needing a shallower setting. For the puncture site, select the side of your middle or ring finger, as these areas often have fewer nerve endings and thicker skin, which can reduce discomfort and injury risk. Rotate puncture sites to prevent soreness and the formation of calluses.
Performing the Lancing Procedure
Position the lancing device firmly against the chosen puncture site on the side of your fingertip. Hold the device steadily and press the release button to activate the lancet. A quick prick should occur, and the lancet will typically retract automatically into the device for safety.
After the puncture, gently squeeze your finger from its base towards the tip to encourage a blood drop to form. Avoid excessive squeezing or “milking” the finger, as this can dilute the blood sample with tissue fluid and potentially lead to inaccurate results. Once a sufficient blood drop has appeared, touch the tip of the test strip to the blood drop, allowing it to draw the sample into the strip without smearing. The blood glucose meter will then process the sample and display your reading.
Post-Procedure Care and Disposal
Immediately after collecting the blood sample, gently apply pressure to the puncture site with a clean cotton ball or tissue until any bleeding stops. Avoid rubbing the area, which can cause bruising. Safely remove the used lancet from the lancing device without touching the needle.
Dispose of the used lancet immediately in an approved sharps container. A sharps container is a rigid, puncture-resistant, and leak-proof plastic container designed specifically for the safe disposal of sharp medical waste. These containers prevent accidental needle sticks and reduce the risk of injury or contamination to others.
Never reuse lancets, as they become dull and unsterile after a single use, increasing pain and the risk of infection. Lancets should also never be shared to prevent the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Keep all lancing supplies, especially used lancets and sharps containers, out of reach of children and pets.