All about Lancets & Your Lancet Device

Where can I get lancets?

Lancets are very easy to find and inexpensive to purchase at any local pharmacy or drugstore. When seeking lancets, buy a brand that works with generic device, usually called a universal lancet, and is twist-top.

Most 28- 30 gauge lancets fit our meter. We’ve tried the following brands and all of them fit the Keto-Mojo meter:

• • TRUEplus Universal Twist top
  • EasyTouch Twist Lancets
  • One Step Twist Top Single Use Lancets
  • Fora Lancets 

How many times can I use a lancet?

We highly recommend using each lancet only a single time because it is safer and less painful. A lancet is only sterile for the first use. Every time you use the lancet, it gets a little bit more dull. And, a dirty lancet could contaminate your test results.

Fortunately, lancets are easy to find and very affordable.

How do I use the lancet device?

Our lancet device, which comes with every Keto-Mojo kit, looks like a fat pen and is your tool for getting the blood sample you need for a Keto-Mojo glucose or ketone test. Using it is quite easy. So much so that you can learn pretty much everything you need to know by watching this short video! If you still need some tips after watching the video, read on.

1. Prepare your sample site: Before you test, wash your hands with warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry with a clean paper towel. Alternatively, you can use an alcohol swab to cleanse the area you plan to draw blood from and let it dry.
2. Remove the white cap on of the Keto-Mojo lancet device by twisting it to the right.
3. Insert a sterile lancet into the lancing device: Insert the lancet into the holder and push in firmly. Twist the protective disk on top until it separates from the lancet and save the disk for helping with safe lancet disposal later. Do not twist the lancet. You may need to straighten the lancet manually.
4. Replace the cap of  lancet device by snapping it back on to the left.  It may seem like it won’t snap. This is normal,  just twist.
5. Adjust the depth setting: The lancet device has six puncture-depth settings,  Smaller numbers are for a shallower puncture, and larger numbers are for a deeper puncture. Shallower punctures work for children and some adults. Deeper punctures work well for people with thick or callused skin. Twist the cap to set the device to your preferred setting. A shallower 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 with enough volume.
6. Prepare the lancing device for activation: Pull the grey knob at the end of the device until it clicks. You will see an orange color in the button on the side of the of the lancet device.
7. Puncture your finger: Hold the lancet device firmly against the side of your finger. Press the clear button on the side of the device (with the orange glow) to initiate a quick, relatively painless puncture.  Remove the lancing device from your finger.
8. Get a round drop of blood: Gently squeeze or massage your fingertip until a round drop of blood appears on your fingertip. If the blood smears or runs, do not use that sample. Dry the area and gently squeeze another drop of blood or puncture a new site.

Where to draw your blood sample

Tips for getting better blood flow

How do I properly dispose of my used lancets?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, lancets are medical wastes called “sharps.” Sharps can be dangerous to those handling garbage, if the sharps are thrown in the regular trash. ”Sharps boxes” are recommended for home use. Many pharmacies sell sharps boxes at reasonable prices and will allow you to return the boxes when they’re full.

General Guidelines for Sharps Disposal

• • Use a sharps box if one is available. Some hospitals and clinics also provide or sell sharps boxes.
  • If you don’t have a sharps box, use a hard (puncture-proof) non-clear container for storing used lancets.
  • When your container is full, dispose of the lancets at a local pharmacy, hospital, or clinic. (See below for more disposal information.)
  • When traveling, it’s still important to properly dispose of your lancets as suggested above, or bring your used sharps home for disposal.

Safety Precautions

• • Do not drop your used  lancets into the regular trash.
  • Do not use clear plastic bottles for lancet disposal.
  • Do not put plastic bottles filled with lancets in recycle bins.

Per the CDC, as of now, each state and region has its own rules for disposing of syringes, pen needles, lancets, and blood strips. To learn more about the regulations, you can check with your refuse company or the local waste authority. For additional information about how to safely dispose of your medical waste in your neighborhood, visit the Center of Disease Control and Prevention official website.

But in general, never dispose of medical waste directly in usual trash bins or public trash areas. Even when you are traveling, please use proper containers to collect your medical waste. Regarding test-strip disposal, patients typically dispose of them in the same bio-waste container as other medical waste items. Some like to keep the blood glucose test strips in a sealed bag and then place them in the sharps container. Sometimes, your community may have dedicated collection sites for filled sharp containers. Some of these locations that may collect them include police stations, fire departments, doctors’ offices, health clinics, health departments, pharmacies, and hospitals.