Patent ID: 7678580

Claim:
A method for lancing the skin of a test subject and harvesting a body fluid sample with a lancing and harvesting device, the method comprising the acts of: providing a lancing and harvesting device having a test strip including a collection chamber, a containing ring surrounding the collection chamber, a capillary channel fluidly coupled to the collection chamber, a test area in fluid communication with the capillary channel, and a lid disposed over at least a portion of the collection chamber and a least a portion of the capillary channel, wherein the capillary channel extends beyond the test area to form a vent the lancing and harvesting device further including a lancet configured to puncture the lid and to extend through the collection chamber when moving between a retracted position and an extended position; placing the containing ring of the test strip on the skin of the test subject; lancing an area of the skin of the test subject bounded by the periphery of the containing ring; maintaining a body fluid sample produced at the lance site within the periphery of the containing ring; collecting the body fluid sample produced at the lance site with the test strip; and directing, with the lid, at least a portion of the body fluid sample from the collection chamber toward an inlet of the capillary channel.