First or second drop?

Scrabblechick · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 10:29 AM

I've seen some forums that advocate using the second drop of blood to test BG. That is, you stick, wipe off the first drop and use the second drop.

Any opinions, pro or con, for this method? Or does it even really matter? My thought was the second drop might be a "cleaner" sample in case I had something on my fingers that might affect the reading, which would probably be wiped off with the first drop.

Just throwing the thought out there.

princesslinda · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 10:38 AM

I've always wiped away the first drop of blood, its something we were taught to do when I was in school, so it's just habit for me.

Erin · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 11:08 AM

I only use the second drop when I'm not exactly sure how clean my hands are. Especially if I've been eating something sweet that might have residue on my fingers. Otherwise I use the first drop and it seems to work fine.

mageerobin · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 11:23 AM

I've always used the first drop but at my last A1C, the lab tech also did a figer stick and he milked the blood about 5 times. I meant to start this thread myself.

Thanks Scrabblechick

Stuboy · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 11:25 AM

never even come across this method!!

I also use the first drop that comes out...

walleyedave · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2008, 11:51 AM

I was taught to always wash my hands but, I always carry alcohol swabs in my meter pouch in case there is no place to wash your hands. They are cheap at walmart for a pack of 100. To me there is not much point of checking blood sugar with dirty hands. There have been times that my readings on my meter did not seem right to me so I washed my hands and checked again and voila a good reading. I cannot see how using the second drop of blood is enough to clean a dirty finger, to me the blood will still be dirty and give a false reading on your meter.

shiftzor · #7 (**permalink**) 10-08-2008, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuboy

never even come across this method!!

I also use the first drop that comes out...

I agree, I can't see how the second drop would be any cleaner than the first? The first drop would have touched the infected skin around it and the second drop will touch the same infected skin. The only difference could be that the first drop forces **** out of the hole you just made which would seem stupid to me because I use clean needles each time and the blood it self is clean. Or am I missing the point?