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OneTouch® Lancing Device

Published 2024-12-20
Updated 2025-10-20
Products OT Lancing Device

OneTouch® Lancing Device:

 

  • The OneTouch® Lancing Device provides a safe, easy way to obtain a drop of capillary blood. The device has nine puncture depth settings, numbered 1 through 9. The setting you choose must be deep enough to get a round drop of blood large enough to get an accurate result with your meter (see your meter’s owner’s booklet for information on the proper blood sample size).
  • Caution:
    • Keep the lancing device away from young children. The lancing device, caps, lancets and lancet protective disks are choking hazards.
  • Caution:
    • To reduce the chance of infection:
      • Make sure to wash the puncture site with soap and water before sampling.
      • Never share a lancet or a lancing device with anyone.
      • Always use a new, sterile lancet – lancets are for single use only.
      • Keep your lancing device clean.
  • Choose a different puncture site each time you test. Repeated punctures in the same spot may cause soreness and calluses.

Table of Contents:


Preparing your Sample Site:

  • Before you test your blood glucose, wash your hands and the sample site with warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry completely.

 

Preparing your OneTouch® Lancing Device:

1. Remove the lancing device cap.
a. Snap the lancing device cap off.
2. Insert a sterile lancet into the OneTouch® Lancing Device.
a. Insert the lancet into the holder and push in firmly.
b. Twist the protective disk until it separates from the lancet. Do not twist the lancet.
c. Save the protective disk for lancet removal.
3. Replace the cap.
a. Use the blue (or black) cap for fingertip blood sampling.
b. Use the OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap for forearm or palm blood sampling.
 
4. Adjust the depth setting.
a. The OneTouch® Lancing Device has nine puncture depth settings, numbered 1 through 9. Smaller numbers are for a shallower puncture and the larger numbers are for a deeper puncture. Shallower punctures work for children and most adults. Deeper punctures work well for people with thick or callused skin. Twist the blue (or black) cap until the correct setting appears.
  • Note:
    • A shallower fingertip puncture may be less painful. Try a shallower setting first and increase the depth until you find the one deep enough to get a blood sample of the proper size (see your meter’s owner’s booklet).
5. Cock the OneTouch® Lancing Device.
a. Slide the cocking control back until it clicks. If it does not click, it may have been cocked when you inserted the lancet.


Sampling Blood from the Fingertip:

1. Puncture your finger.
a. Hold the OneTouch® Lancing Device firmly against the side of your finger.
b. Press the release button.
c. Remove the OneTouch® Lancing Device from your finger.
2. Get a round drop of blood.
a. Gently squeeze and/or massage your fingertip until a round drop of blood forms on your fingertip.
3. Apply the sample.
a. Apply the blood sample. Follow the instructions in your meter’s owner’s booklet for proper sample application. If the blood smears or runs, do not use that sample.
b. Dry the area and gently squeeze another drop of blood or puncture a new site.


Sampling Blood from the Forearm or Palm:

  • Forearm and palm sampling is also referred to as “alternate site testing” (AST). See the instructions that came with your meter for important information about sampling from the forearm or palm.
  • Choosing your sample site:
    • Forearm:
  • Choose a fleshy area of the forearm away from bone or visible veins. Select a spot with no hair. Sometimes there is less blood flow to the forearm than to the fingertips. To help you get a large enough drop of blood, you may gently massage or apply warmth to the site to increase blood flow.
  • Palm:
  • Choose a fleshy area on the palm below your thumb or little finger. Select a spot with no visible veins and away from deep lines, which may cause your blood sample to smear.

 

  • Install the OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap on the OneTouch® Lancing Device.
    • The OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap is used for forearm and palm sampling only. Replace the blue (or black) cap with the OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap.

 

  • Adjust the depth setting.
    • You may have to adjust the OneTouch® Lancing Device to a deeper setting to get a large enough drop of blood from your forearm or palm. Twist the OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap toward the larger numbers to increase the depth.
1. Puncture your forearm or palm.
a. Firmly press and hold the lancing device against your forearm or palm for a few seconds. Wait until the skin surface under the OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap changes color (as blood collects beneath the skin). This tells you there is enough blood flow for a good sample.
b. Then press the release button while continuing to apply pressure.
c. Keep holding the lancing device against your skin until a round drop of blood forms under the cap.
  • When sampling blood from your forearm or palm, make sure the drop of blood is sufficient (● sample size) before you release pressure and remove the lancing device
2. Remove the OneTouch® Lancing Device.
a. Carefully lift the lancing device away from your skin. Do not smear the blood sample.
b. If bruising occurs or you have difficulty getting a sample, consider sampling a fingertip instead. You may want to review the choice of sites with your healthcare professional.
3. Apply the sample.
a. Apply the blood sample. Follow the instructions in your meter’s owner’s booklet for proper sample
application.



Removing and Disposing of the Used Lancet:

1. Remove the lancing device cap.
 
2. Cover the exposed lancet tip before removing the lancet.
 
3. Place the lancet protective disk on a hard surface then push the lancet tip into the flat side of the disk.
 
4. Remove the lancet and place it in a container for sharp objects.
 
5. Replace the cap.
 
  • It is important to discard the used lancet carefully after each use to avoid unintended lancet stick injuries. Used lancets may be considered biohazardous waste in your area. Be sure to follow your local regulations for proper disposal.


Cleaning your OneTouch® Lancing Device and Caps:

  • To clean these items, wipe them with a soft cloth dampened with water and mild detergent.
  • Do not immerse the OneTouch® Lancing Device in any liquid.
  • To disinfect these items:
    • Prepare a solution of one part household bleach to ten parts water.
    • Wipe the OneTouch® Lancing Device with a soft cloth dampened with this solution.
    • Immerse the caps only in this solution for 30 minutes.
    • After disinfecting, rinse briefly with water and allow both to air dry.

AW 06465703A