A medical puncturing device, comprising: a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a shield having a proximal end and a distal end, the shield proximal end disposed within the housing, the shield axially movable relative to the housing; and a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element integral with the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient, the carrier movable from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient, the carrier maintained in the retracted position by engagement of at least one retaining tab on the shield with the carrier and moved from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier, characterized by: an end cap enclosing the proximal end of the housing, the end cap having a proximal end, a distal end, a singular actuating member extending from the proximal end of the end cap, and a second camming surface on a distal end of the actuating member; wherein the shield has a first camming surface on the proximal end thereof, the proximal end of the shield defining at least one slot, the proximal end of the shield adapted to be radially deformed or flexed outward by the distal ends of the singular actuating member; and wherein release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier occurs upon engagement between the first camming surface on the proximal end of the shield and the second camming surface on the distal end of the actuating member, the first camming surface on the proximal end of the shield being oppositely tapered and opposing the second camming surface on the distal end of the actuating member. a housing having a proximal end and a distal end; a shield having a proximal end and a distal end, the shield proximal end disposed within the housing, the shield axially movable relative to the housing; and a skin puncturing assembly disposed within the housing and comprising a movable carrier and a skin puncturing element integral with the carrier, a distal end of the skin puncturing element adapted for puncturing the skin of a patient, the carrier movable from a retracted position wherein the distal end of the skin puncturing element is disposed within the shield to a puncturing position wherein the distal end is exposed from the shield to puncture the skin of the patient, the carrier maintained in the retracted position by engagement of at least one retaining tab on the shield with the carrier and moved from the retracted position to the puncturing position upon release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier, characterized by: an end cap enclosing the proximal end of the housing, the end cap having a proximal end, a distal end, a singular actuating member extending from the proximal end of the end cap, and a second camming surface on a distal end of the actuating member; wherein the shield has a first camming surface on the proximal end thereof, the proximal end of the shield defining at least one slot, the proximal end of the shield adapted to be radially deformed or flexed outward by the distal ends of the singular actuating member; and wherein release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier occurs upon engagement between the first camming surface on the proximal end of the shield and the second camming surface on the distal end of the actuating member, the first camming surface on the proximal end of the shield being oppositely tapered and opposing the second camming surface on the distal end of the actuating member. an end cap enclosing the proximal end of the housing, the end cap having a proximal end, a distal end, a singular actuating member extending from the proximal end of the end cap, and a second camming surface on a distal end of the actuating member; wherein the shield has a first camming surface on the proximal end thereof, the proximal end of the shield defining at least one slot, the proximal end of the shield adapted to be radially deformed or flexed outward by the distal ends of the singular actuating member; and wherein release of the at least one retaining tab from the carrier occurs upon engagement between the first camming surface on the proximal end of the shield and the second camming surface on the distal end of the actuating member, the first camming surface on the proximal end of the shield being oppositely tapered and opposing the second camming surface on the distal end of the actuating member.