Care & Use of Lancets

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

You wrote, " I change lancet's about once a week. It's not necessary to use a

new lancet each time you test, but you'll find that if you change the lancet

every 5 days or so, that the prick won't hurt as much. The sharper the lancet

is, the less it hurts. "

Many people have a misunderstanding regarding the frequency of changing the

lancets. I used to think I could use a lancet for a good ten sticks. That was

until I went to another one of my annual diabetic training classes that

Medicare pays for every year. I was shown a greatly blown up picture of a lancet

before use and after subsequent uses. It was enough to turn my stomach. The

lancet's sharp edges become dull and irregular after one use, though it is not

very

visible to the naked eye. Though you can still get a response of blood, the

jagged edge of the used lancet can cause damage to the layers of the dermis or

skin. A puncture wound with a clean sharp lancet will heal quite quickly but

one done with a serrated edge will not.

The other thing that can be seen under the microscope when looking at the

used lancet, even after the first use, is residual blood on the now jagged edge

of the lancet. It is a prime location for an opportunistic infection.

A clean sharp lancet is also important to avoid hemolyzing the Hgb cell

during the stick. This occurs when the blood cells are damaged from either a

jagged

lancet or excessive squeezing on the finger. With some lab tests, this can

cause false results. With potassium levels, it can result in false highs.

Medicare and insurance companies will cover and provide a lancet for each

time the doctor ordered you to check your blood. My doctor wrote an order for me

to check my blood sugar 8 times a day. Therefore, when my diabetic supplies

arrive there are 8X30days = 240 lancets for a month. I searched all over but

could not locate the online photo of the lancets after one use, but I am sure

that the instruction manual says to dispose of each lancet after each use. I

used to think the medical supply company just wanted to sell more lancets, and I

am sure they do, but there is a valid reason to use them only once.

On a side note, I also used to reuse my insulin pen needles for two or three

shots. Now they get a one time shot and then they are disposed of, as well.

[The lancet devise itself should be cleansed in mild soap and warm water at

least weekly and any time there is visible blood on the tip. Do not immerse the

entire device under water. The cap should be disinfected in 70% isopropyl

alcohol for ten minutes once a week.]

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org

Pancreatitis Association International