| I think it all depends on what kind of "health cleanliness" type person you are in terms of sterility.
The rule of thumb is never insert or prick without a clean location. You should at least do it before you insert a needle to help kill any bacteria in that area of where you insert since the needle will be in you for a few seconds. But then again, they also say don't reuse needles because of that exact reason.
As for the lancet/fingerstick, the same should apply. The reason for this is the same but slightly different. With a BG check you also want the most accurate result, therefore you need to make sure you don't get any contaminates mixed in with the blood. Generally for this a simple hand washing will do, no need for an alcohol swab.
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●Blue Ash, Ohio Police Dispatcher
●Type 1 diabetic for 25 years (11 months old)
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~IR 1000 (Dec. 2002-Jan. 2005)
~IR 1200 (Jan. 2005 - ?)
●LifeScan OneTouch UltraSmart Diabetes is an Art, NOT a Science. You must master the control by skills and not by knowledge alone. | 
