I have intermittent problems with being able to produce a sufficient drop of blood for testing, with the frequency of difficulties seeming to increase of late.
I use a technique of lancing the side of a finger (usually pinky or ring), wiping away the first drop of blood with a sterile cotton ball, and then taking the measurement using the next drop to form. Generally, I’m able to accomplish this without needing to squeeze my finger and the blood clots almost immediately after the second drop forms.
However, lately when I lance my finger, I can sometimes get the first drop to form, but the blood clots too soon to form a second drop. Frequently, not even the first drop forms so it would seem the blood is clotting too quickly or I did not penetrate the skin.
The skin around my fingertips is soft and not calloused. I use fresh lancets for each reading. I use the deepest puncture setting on my lancing device. As far as lancing devices go, I have used the Bayer Microlet 2, the Accu-Chek Multiclix, and the OneTouch Delica, all with similar outcomes.
I try to make sure my hands aren’t cold, so I’ve tried running them under warm water for several minutes and running a hair dryer across them to warm them. I’m trying dangling them below my heart, shaking my hands, gently kneading my hands from the top of the palm then slightly up the finger to help the blood flow to my fingertips (although I prefer to avoid doing this due to the likelihood of increasing the blood drops concentration of interstitial fluids).
As far as I’m aware, I’ve tried the majority of the suggestions I’ve read on the internet but am still having difficulty. I’m not certain if the viscosity of blood could fluctuate that greatly from day to day, but I suppose that’s possible. Blood that thick would seem to be a serious medical condition and I’m not sure what the signs and symptoms of that might be.
Anybody have any other techniques or thoughts that could help me with this problem?
Thanks!
I use a technique of lancing the side of a finger (usually pinky or ring), wiping away the first drop of blood with a sterile cotton ball, and then taking the measurement using the next drop to form. Generally, I’m able to accomplish this without needing to squeeze my finger and the blood clots almost immediately after the second drop forms.
However, lately when I lance my finger, I can sometimes get the first drop to form, but the blood clots too soon to form a second drop. Frequently, not even the first drop forms so it would seem the blood is clotting too quickly or I did not penetrate the skin.
The skin around my fingertips is soft and not calloused. I use fresh lancets for each reading. I use the deepest puncture setting on my lancing device. As far as lancing devices go, I have used the Bayer Microlet 2, the Accu-Chek Multiclix, and the OneTouch Delica, all with similar outcomes.
I try to make sure my hands aren’t cold, so I’ve tried running them under warm water for several minutes and running a hair dryer across them to warm them. I’m trying dangling them below my heart, shaking my hands, gently kneading my hands from the top of the palm then slightly up the finger to help the blood flow to my fingertips (although I prefer to avoid doing this due to the likelihood of increasing the blood drops concentration of interstitial fluids).
As far as I’m aware, I’ve tried the majority of the suggestions I’ve read on the internet but am still having difficulty. I’m not certain if the viscosity of blood could fluctuate that greatly from day to day, but I suppose that’s possible. Blood that thick would seem to be a serious medical condition and I’m not sure what the signs and symptoms of that might be.
Anybody have any other techniques or thoughts that could help me with this problem?
Thanks!