Blood letting for BSL: the effects of timing and sites on blood volume.

The purpose of this study was to establish the most appropriate timing and site for obtaining an adequate volume of blood for accurate measurement of blood sugar levels by blood glucose monitors. The 248 samples of blood used in the study were collected from 18 men and 16 women recruited from a group of people with type II diabetes mellitus who were attending an outpatient Diabetes Centre. Neither the timing between lancing and collecting the blood nor the sites from which blood was obtained significantly affected the volume of blood samples. Sufficient blood to give an accurate measure of blood sugar levels from monitors requiring 30, 15-18 and five microlitres of blood was obtained from 37%, 65% and 98% of the procedures respectively.