A blood lancet, or simply lancet, is a small medical implement used for

capillary A capillary is a small blood vessel from 5 to 10 micrometres (μm) in diameter. Capillaries are composed of only the tunica intima, consisting of a thin wall of simple squamous endothelial cells. They are the smallest blood vessels in the bod ...

blood sampling. A blood lancet, sometimes called a lance, is similar to a

scalpel A scalpel, lancet, or bistoury is a small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for surgery, anatomical dissection, podiatry and various arts and crafts (either called a hobby knife or an X-acto knife.). Scalpels may be single-use dispos ...

style lancet, but with a double-edged blade and a pointed end. It can even be a specialized type of sharp needle. Lancets are used to make punctures, such as a

fingerstick In medicine, some blood tests are conducted on capillary blood obtained by fingerstick (or fingerprick) (or, for neonates, by an analogous heelprick). The site, free of surface arterial flow, where the blood is to be collected is sterilized with a ...

, to obtain small blood specimens. Blood lancets are generally disposable. Lancets are also used to prick the

skin Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different de ...

in dermatological testing for allergies.Abstract: The Allergy Pricker
/ref> A blood-sampling device, also known as a lancing device, is an instrument equipped with a lancet. It is also most commonly used by

diabetic Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ...

patients during

blood glucose monitoring Blood glucose monitoring is the use of a glucose meter for testing the concentration of glucose in the blood ( glycemia). Particularly important in diabetes management, a blood glucose test is typically performed by piercing the skin (typically, ...

. The depth of skin penetration can be adjusted for various skin thicknesses. Long lancing devices are used for

fetal scalp blood testing Fetal scalp blood testing is a technique used in obstetrics during labor to confirm whether fetal oxygenation is sufficient. The procedure can be performed by creating a shallow cut by a transvaginally inserted blood lancet, followed by applying ...

to get a measure of the

acid base status In computer science, ACID ( atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) is a set of properties of database transactions intended to guarantee data validity despite errors, power failures, and other mishaps. In the context of databases, a sequ ...

of the fetus.

Blood sampling

The small capillary blood samples obtained can be tested for

blood glucose Glycaemia, also known as blood sugar level, blood sugar concentration, or blood glucose level is the measure of glucose concentrated in the blood of humans or other animals. Approximately 4 grams of glucose, a simple sugar, is present in the blo ...

hemoglobin Hemoglobin (haemoglobin BrE) (from the Greek word αἷμα, ''haîma'' 'blood' + Latin ''globus'' 'ball, sphere' + ''-in'') (), abbreviated Hb or Hgb, is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein present in red blood cells (erythrocyt ...

, and many other blood components.

References

External links

Lancet In Diabetes Self Management
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blood Lancet Diabetes-related supplies and medical equipment Medical testing equipment