Understanding Lancets and Lancing Devices

For many people the finger prick is the least welcome part of blood glucose testing. The right lancet, the right depth setting and good technique make it quicker and far less uncomfortable. This guide explains the equipment and how to use and dispose of it safely.

What they are

Lancets

A lancet is a short, fine, sterile needle set in a plastic body with a protective cap. It makes a tiny puncture in the skin to produce a drop of blood. Lancets are designed for a single use.

Lancing devices

A lancing device is a pen-shaped, spring-loaded holder. You load a lancet, set the depth, press the device against your finger and press a button. The spring moves the lancet in and out of the skin very quickly, which is less painful than doing it by hand.

Understanding gauge

The thickness of a lancet is given as a gauge (G). The higher the number, the thinner the needle.

• 28G: thicker; produces a larger drop, useful for thick or calloused skin.
• 30G: a fine, widely used size. Our Sterile Lancets 30G come in boxes of 100.
• 33G: very thin; gentlest, but may not give enough blood for everyone.

Thinner lancets cause less discomfort. Choose the thinnest that reliably gives you an adequate sample.

Depth settings

Most lancing devices have a dial with several depth levels. Skin thickness varies from person to person and finger to finger.

• Start at a low setting.
• If you do not get enough blood, increase by one step.
• Use the shallowest setting that works.

Our Adjustable Lancing Device has adjustable depth settings and an ejector so you can release the used lancet without touching it.

Compatibility

Many lancets have a standard shape that fits most pen-style lancing devices, but some devices need their own brand or use pre-loaded drums. Check before buying.

Technique for a more comfortable test

1. Wash your hands in warm water and dry them well. Warmth increases blood flow.
2. Let your arm hang down for a few seconds or massage the hand.
3. Use the side of the fingertip, where there are fewer nerve endings.
4. Hold the device firmly against the skin and press the release button.
5. Gently squeeze from the base of the finger toward the tip.
6. Rotate between fingers and sides to let each site recover.

Why you should not reuse lancets

• A lancet is sterile only until first use.
• The tip becomes blunt and bent after one puncture, making later tests more painful and causing more skin damage.
• Reuse increases the risk of infection.

Never share

The FDA and CDC are clear that lancing devices and lancets must never be shared, even among family members. Tiny amounts of blood can remain on the device and transmit infections such as hepatitis B. A lancing device is for one person only.

Safe disposal

The FDA advises placing used sharps immediately into a sharps disposal container.

• Put used sharps straight into a sharps disposal container, such as our Sharps Disposal Container. The FDA recommends FDA-cleared containers, so check the labeling of any container you buy. If one is not available, a heavy-duty plastic household container with a tight, puncture-resistant lid, such as a laundry detergent bottle, can be used.
• Do not overfill: stop when the container is about three-quarters full.
• Keep it out of reach of children and pets.
• Follow your community’s rules for disposal of full containers. Options include drop-off sites, household hazardous waste collections and mail-back programs.
• Never put loose lancets in the trash or recycling, and never flush them.

Caring for your lancing device

Wipe the outside with a damp cloth and mild soap, or as the instructions describe. Do not immerse it in water. Replace the device if the spring weakens or the cap cracks.

The bottom line

A fine lancet, a shallow depth, the side of the finger and a fresh lancet each time make testing easier. Dispose of sharps safely, every time. Find lancets and devices in our diabetes care department.

Sources

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices.
2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Safely Using Sharps (Needles and Syringes) at Home, at Work and on Travel.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Monitoring Your Blood Sugar.
4. American Diabetes Association. Check Your Blood Glucose.