Blood lancet
Encyclopedia
Scalpel
A scalpel, or lancet, is a small and extremely sharp bladed instrument used for surgery, anatomical dissection, and various arts and crafts . Scalpels may be single-use disposable or re-usable. Re-usable scalpels can have attached, resharpenable blades or, more commonly, non-attached, replaceable...
but with a double-edged blade or needle. Lancets are used to make punctures to obtain small blood specimens, are generally disposable, and are commonly used in the treatment of diabetes. The small blood samples obtained can be tested for blood glucose
Blood sugar
The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally in mammals, the body maintains the blood glucose level at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM , or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL...
, hemoglobin
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells of all vertebrates, with the exception of the fish family Channichthyidae, as well as the tissues of some invertebrates...
, and many other blood components. Lancets are also used to prick the skin in skin testing for allergies
Skin allergy test
Skin allergy testing is a method for medical diagnosis of allergies that attempts to provoke a small, controlled, allergic response. -Process:A microscopic amount of an allergen is introduced to a patient's skin by various means:...
.
A blood-sampling device, also known as a lancing device, is a reusable instrument equipped with a lancet. It is also most commonly used by diabetics during blood glucose monitoring
Blood glucose monitoring
Blood glucose monitoring is a way of testing the concentration of glucose in the blood . Particularly important in the care of diabetes mellitus, a blood glucose test is performed by piercing the skin to draw blood, then applying the blood to a chemically active disposable 'test-strip'...
. The depth of skin penetration can be adjusted for various skin thicknesses.