[SteveFromIowa]

After you lance, what do you use to clean-up the leftover blood droplets?
I find myself tearing off small sections of paper towels or facial tissue's. I'm sure there's something better. ?
Also, what is the proper way to dispose of the slightly bloody piece of tissue?
Thanks!

[Gordonm]

Sounds gross but I just suck it off my finger and move on. Many here do the same thing. It is such a small drop anyway.

[Jae]

Ummmmm Alcohol Swabs?
Before you test to clean site and after to clean up

[Gordonm]

With any type of swab make sure it is completly dry before testing. If not the results will not be accurate. I test 10 to 14 times a day. That is a lot of swabs.

[Mothernature]

Wash my hand or wipe off with a alcohol pad. The pads or tissue paper can be tossed with the regular garbage.

[HuskerMychal]

Originally Posted by Gordonm

Sounds gross but I just suck it off my finger and move on. Many here do the same thing. It is such a small drop anyway.

I was gonna say the same thing

[poodlebone]

I fold up a tissue and put that in the zippered mesh pocket in my meter case. I then wipe my finger across the mesh. When the tissue is so gross with dried blood I pull it out, turn it over and continue. I know the mesh pocket is also full of blood but it doesn't really bother me because I can't see it. I will also lick my finger if it's still oozing after I close up the case. At night, I wipe it on the t-shirt I'm wearing to bed. Yes, I'm gross.

[HuskerMychal]

Dont sound gross to me. Sounds like about 75% of us do with out even thinking about it

[Scratch]

I just lick it. No alcohol needed.

I haven't had an infection in years of licking blood drops and not using alcohol swabs.

[howdysf]

Originally Posted by HuskerMychal

I was gonna say the same thing

Same here.. just suck it off my finger.. Done!

[foxl]

Me, too ... I jes' lick it!

[xMenace]

What's an alcohol swab?

[HollyB]

When I test Aaron at night I usually just smear the remaining bit of blood off with my thumb. He sometimes scrapes it off with the used test strip.

[alura]

I am one of the minority who uses alcohol wipes beforehand and also to clean up. My daughter, the phlebotomist, insists that the alcohol swabs are a good idea. I also choose to use a new lancet each time. With all that, I use the little packet the wipe comes in to hold all the trash and dispose of in the garbage.......been thinking of the best way to dispose of though.....maybe loose in gargabe is not the best.

[poodlebone]

Originally Posted by alura

I am one of the minority who uses alcohol wipes beforehand and also to clean up. My daughter, the phlebotomist, insists that the alcohol swabs are a good idea. I also choose to use a new lancet each time. With all that, I use the little packet the wipe comes in to hold all the trash and dispose of in the garbage.......been thinking of the best way to dispose of though.....maybe loose in gargabe is not the best.

You should not be throwing lancets in the trash because there's a very real possibility of someone getting stuck. Many hospitals, drugstores and other health facilities have sharps containers for free or low cost. Different places have different laws about how to dispose of the container once it's full. Many of the places that gave it to you will also take it back. In some places once the container is filled & sealed (and clearly marked) it can be put in with regular trash.

I never used alcohol because it only dries my skin. I try to wash my hands before every test but don't always have the option. I just pick the cleanest finger when I don't have access to a sink. I also rarely change my lancet, although since I've been using the Multiclix I've gotten somewhat better. I've been using it just over a year now and I've recently started my 3rd drum, which means I've already used 12 lancets (6 per drum). That's an average of 1 per month - a record for me!