Capillary blood sampling: the pain of single-use lancing devices

Six disposable automatic lancing devices were examined in 50 healthy adult volunteers with regard to pain intensity, blood volume and user safety. Devices with a trigger-linked lancer movement were significantly more painful than those with a preset lancet speed. Residual pain was more frequent after the use of devices with a blade compared to devices with a needle. Only half of the devices reliably produced sufficient blood Volumes (>50 mu l). Two of the devices could accidentally be re-used and constitute a hazard for patient and personnel. It is concluded that some of the disposable automatic lancing devices are safe and reliable but none of them causes minimal pain. (C) 2000 European Federation of Chapters of the international Association for the Study of Pain.