Our consumer lancing systems, Accu-Chek FastClix, Accu-Chek Multiclix, Accu-Chek Softclix, facilitate gentle and virtually pain-free blood sampling through their precise lancet cut, customized depth settings and guided lancet motion (Clixmotion). There are additional ways in which blood sampling can be made easy and gentle. For your reference here the most important tips for gentle blood sampling.​ 

Clean, dry and warm hands are important​ 
Any contamination of the fingertip with dirt, liquids (even water) or food may affect glucose readings. Clean and dry hands are a prerequisite for optimal self-testing. Warm hands also ensure a good blood flow, and hence a large enough sample size, even with a shallow penetration depth.​ 

Once-only use of lancets has perceptible advantages​ 
Only unused lancets are guaranteed sterile and thus hygienic. Also, only unused lancets have the optimal sharpness and a sharp lancet is important because it makes blood sampling less painful.​ 

Lancing at the optimal depth setting is a key consideration​ 
A lancet should pierce the skin only to the depth necessary to get an adequate amount of blood. Lancing too deeply increases pain as more nerve endings are encountered by the lancet. In order for the lancet to protrude just far enough into the skin to encounter blood vessels, it is important to adjust the penetration depth according to the individual skin thickness.​ 

Sampling is improved by pressing the lancing device firmly against the skin​ 
The intensity with which the lancing device is pressed against the skin has considerable influence on the necessary penetration depth. The more firmly the device is pressed against the skin, the better and more gently the lancet can penetrate the skin with a shallow penetration depth.​ 

The side of the fingertip is the optimal puncture site​ 
In general, all fingers are suitable for obtaining blood. Certain fingers can be unsuitable if, for example, a skin or fingernail infection is present. The optimal spot for blood sampling is the side of the fingertip, approximately at the finger nail area. Lancing the finger on the same spot should be avoided. By alternating the fingers with each test, the skin is allowed to regenerate.​ ​ 

Massaging the finger gently towards the fingertip does not affect a blood glucose test result​ 
The finger can be massaged (“milking”) in the direction of the fingertip to encourage a blood drop to form. This minimizes lancing pain, as a shallower penetration depth can be selected. Squeezing the fingertip does not significantly dilute capillary blood with “tissue fluid”. However, the finger should not be “milked” if the blood sample is for coagulation measurement.​ ​ 

First drop of blood can be used for glucose monitoring​ 
In contrast to former recommendations it is not necessary to discard the first drop of blood for glucose monitoring. There is no significant difference in blood glucose values measured with the first and the second drop. However, any contamination of the fingertip with dirt or liquids (sweat, fruit juice etc.) may affect glucose readings. Clean and dry fingertips are a prerequisite for an optimal glucose measurement.