Your most comfortable setting will depend on a few things:

• Whether you're using a fingertip or alternate site.¹
• Your skin type. Softer, thinner skin requires a shallower setting than thicker skin.
• The required blood sample. The more blood you require, the higher the setting you'll need.

Start with a low setting when using the device for the first time. Dial to a higher setting until blood volume is right. For alternate sites, try 3 for palm testing or 5-1/2 for forearm or upper arm testing. (These are suggested settings, yours may differ.)

¹Talk with your healthcare professional before deciding if alternate site testing is right for you.

Accu-Chek lancing devices all use technology that minimizes side-to-side motion for less skin tearing. Plus, the way our beveled lancets are precisely designed and manufactured allows for smoother entry. Finally, each device offers 11 customizable depth settings to help match your skin type and help eliminate blood glucose testing pain.

Yes. The first drop of blood can be used for blood sugar checks.

There are a few ways you can improve blood flow and make blood sugar checks easier:

• Warm your fingers by washing with warm, soapy water, then rinse and dry completely.
• Let your arm hang down at your side to increase blood flow to the fingertips.
• Grasp your finger just below the joint closest to the fingertip and "milk" or massage gently toward tip of finger, then squeeze for 3 seconds.
• Use an Accu-Chek lancing device set to the right Comfort Dial setting for your skin type.

The Accu-Chek Softclix and Accu-Chek Softclix Plus lancing devices have a special clear plastic cap designed for testing on other areas of the body.¹ Note: Do not use the clear cap when testing at the fingertip.

Follow the steps for fingertip testing, with a few differences:

• Use the clear cap.
• You may need a deeper setting. Try 3 for palm testing or 5-1/2 for forearm or upper arm testing. (These are suggested settings; yours may differ.)
• Press the opening of the gray cap firmly against a fleshy area of the non-fingertip site. Press the lancing device up and down in a slow pumping motion to assist the flow of blood.
• Keep steady pressure on the area, then press and release the plunger. Do not be afraid to apply pressure to the area with the lancing device to assist the flow of blood. Continue to press the cap against the site for a few seconds to allow blood to come to the surface.

¹Talk with your healthcare professional before deciding if alternate site testing is right for you.

We strongly recommend the use of a new, sterile lancet every time you test. The tip of a new needle is sharp and precisely formed to ensure gentle lancing, but the tip can become dull or bent if used more than once. What's more, a new lancet is sterile and hygienic.

Lancets should be placed and disposed of in an approved sharps container, in accordance with your local regulations.

Find out more about how to deal with sharps responsibly.

The Accu-Chek Softclix Plus lancing device can be used attached to or detached from the meter, including performing blood sugar checks and changing lancets.

Dropping the lancing device with a lancet inserted may loosen the lancet in its holder. If that happens, the lancet will no longer be properly lodged and cannot be used to obtain blood. In rare cases, the lancet may protrude from the cap. Take great care not to touch the front of the cap.

During normal testing, any lancing device may come in contact with blood. For this reason, it is important to keep the lancing device clean and disinfected.

To clean and disinfect without damaging the lancing device, follow these procedures carefully:

• Remove the lancet drum before cleaning and disinfecting the lancing device.
• Clean and disinfect the lancing device once per week or when it has visible signs of dirt or other material.
• Clean and disinfect the lancing device before allowing anyone else to handle the lancing device, for instance, if you have someone assisting you. Do not allow anyone else to use your lancing device to obtain their blood sample.
• Use Super Sani-Cloth^® (available at Amazon.com, Office Depot, Walmart and other retailers) to clean the lancing device. Do not use any other cleaning or disinfecting solutions, as it could result in damage to the lancing device.
• You might notice a slight discoloration of the lancing device after multiple cleanings. This does not affect the functionality of the device.

The entire lancing device surface and cap can be cleaned and disinfected. Here's how:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
2. Wipe the entire lancing device surface with Super Sani-Cloth. Make sure that no liquid enters any opening, as it could damage the lancing device.
3. Remove and wipe the inside of the cap.
4. Dry the lancing device and cap with a soft cloth or gauze. Make sure that no solution is seen in any opening.
5. Repeat these steps with a new Super Sani-Cloth to fully disinfect the lancing device.
6. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.