How often change lancet?

#1

For those of you who use a blood meter to check your ketones, do you REALLY use a new lancet each and every time? I’ve been checking my blood for various things over the past few decades and probably only changed it about every 10th finger prick.

I’m the only one who uses it, I always have clean hands when I test, so I’m not sure if there’s any reason I should be using a fresh lancet each and every time. Granted, it hurts a little more when the point starts to get dull but that’s when I am reminded to replace it.

I don’t think re-using one affects results at all, do you?

(Doug) #2

I think you have it perfectly, Sue. Yes - hurts a little more as time goes on, but I only used one back when I was checking blood sugar, 25 or 30 times.

#3

Oh, thank you! I don’t know what made me think of it but when I realized that I hardly ever change it (and to be honest it’s probably more like after 20+ uses that I break down and take the extra minute to replace it) I got this sudden panic of “OMG - have I been doing it wrong all these years? Are my results not accurate because there might be a molecule of old blood on the lancet?” I never worry about contamination but now I do wonder if results vary.
Sue

(Doug) #4

I never thought of the “old blood” deal but had very consistent results. Really doubt there is enough on the lancet that would mix with the new blood to change much of anything.

(Laurel Harrington) #5

It’s a pain (no pun intended) but you should change the lancet every time. It is possible to get Hepatitis from your own dried blood.

(Doug) #6

Laurel, I had never heard that. If you don’t already have hepatitis, where would the virus come from?

I guess there are some risks, though, regardless… :neutral_face:

#7

Wondering the same thing…the hepatitis virus would have to get ON the lancet for me to be able to inject it into myself, right?
Sue

#8

I never reuse one. They are far too cheap to even consider that.

#9

Cheap yes, especially as compared to the ketone strips, but what’s the REASON you change it each time? What are you going to introduce into your system that didn’t come from you in the first place?
Sue

(Todd Allen) #10

I reuse mine about 10 times.

#11

I change mine with every good finger stick. Sometimes it does not penetrate to skin to draw blood… poor placement, the dial moved, or a thick skin area chosen. The issue to me from a clinical standing is not the use by others, it is one of good practice. Once it touches blood due to penetration, air borne particles can land and grow. You have mold spores, some for of salmonella, E. coli and other types of bacteria or viruses that are ever present. Just look up cultured air in any environment. Thus rather say use a clean lancet for every session ! 10c lancet versus a possible bug?

#12

Good point… well noted. It certainly would be a stupid reason for getting an illness that could easily have been avoided.
Sue

(Steve) #13

Umm. I’m really NOT that cheap guys - I’m only 1/4 Scottish. :slight_smile: Got my Keto Mojo back in March. Still have the original lancet needle in. I’ve just adjusted it to try to go deeper - still works. Figured I’d stop using it when it didn’t break the skin anymore. :smiley:

Heh…selling it now - picked up a cheap breathalyzer off of Amazon instead. :slight_smile:

So, yep, 9 of the 10 original in the package, unused. :slight_smile:

(Bethany) #14

I reuse mine if I test a lot within a day or 2, but I give it a quick rinse with water after each use so the old blood doesn’t skew the next reading.

#15

Any airborne contagion.

#16

10 cent lancet? Dang! That’s about five times the price I pay ordering them from Amazon!

(Allie) #17

Change it when the finger prick hurts.

(Edith) #18

I assume the lancet is sterile when one first twists off the cap. Once it has been used, it is no longer sterile and can therefore introduce infection. It is best to replace it for each blood glucose/ketone reading.

#19

If you get hepatitis from your own blood, you already had it. I change the lancet about every 10 times. Technically, you should change it every time, but I doubt 1 person in 1000 does. The risks of infection or anything else are very small, but wiping the lancet with an alcohol wipe after use helps keep it clean. (I’m a nurse)

(Nithiyan Thiruudaian) #20

Absolutely right. If you take precautions to sterilize the needle then you could re-use but after each use you will theoretically leave some of your skin on the needle and this can decay. Re-use may introduce decaying material into the new puncture that could cause infection.

In a healthy individual this is a minor risk but it IS a risk so I sterilise the tip and re-use only once.