OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising Canadians that blood lancing devices labelled for personal use should not be shared due to the risk of transmitting blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

Lancing devices are used to obtain blood samples for such purposes as blood sugar monitoring. They consist of a hand-held tube into which a small surgical knife known as a lancet is loaded. The device is held against the skin and a button is pressed to release the lancet. An endcap controls the penetration depth of the lancet.

Lancets used for blood sampling should not be shared and should be disposed of in an appropriate safety container. In addition, the labelling of lancing devices should be read carefully to determine their intended use. Some are intended for single use and others are intended for multiple use by one patient only. Finally, some devices can be used on multiple patients only if the endcap is properly disinfected or replaced, according to the manufacturer’s directions.

There have been several cases in Canada and abroad where blood lancing devices were inappropriately used by health care workers to obtain samples from multiple patients. Health Canada recently issued a Notice to Hospitals to remind health care workers of the safety measures that should be observed to minimize the risk of transmission of blood-borne diseases when using these devices.

Individual users of blood-lancing devices who have questions about the safety measures to be observed when handling these products are urged to communicate with the manufacturer of the device they use and with a physician.

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Media Enquiries:
Nathalie Lalonde
Health Canada
(613) 957-1803

Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709


	Last Updated: 2006-01-31		Important Notices