Lancets are incision devices meant to puncture or cut the skin to obtain capillary blood. They are specifically designed for finger or heel punctures. Both types of devices are required to have OSHA safety features, which include the use of a retractable blade or needle to reduce the risk of sharps injury. Push-button-activated safety lancets have reduced the risk of infection, bone injury, and pain inflicted upon patients.
More recently, laser lancets have become available for use on the fingers of adults and children five years or older. They perforate the skin with a laser instead of a sharp blade or needle, eliminating the risk of accidental sharps injuries.
One of the challenges with capillary blood collection is the high possibility of specimen contamination. In the next couple of pages, we will introduce two newer capillary collection devices that can eliminate this possibility.
