Things that make you go hmmm…
The other morning, as I was getting ready for the day and went to do my usual finger prick, it got me thinking about something we don’t always pay attention to: how we wash our hands before testing. Such a small step… but is it really that small?
Quick answer: Yes—more than most people realize.
It’s not so much what you wash with, but how well you rinse and dry your hands before testing.
Why?
- Clean fingers = accurate reading
Any residue (food, sugar, lotion, even soap) can contaminate the blood sample and throw off your result. - Warm water helps blood flow
It makes it easier to get a good drop without squeezing, which can affect the sample.
The catch?
- Cold hands can make it harder to get blood → more squeezing → less reliable results
- Soap residue left behind can falsely raise or distort readings
- Wet fingers can dilute the blood drop and skew the number
Even tiny amounts of residue can make a difference—meters are that sensitive.
Takeaway
Wash with warm water and any soap, rinse thoroughly, and dry completely before testing.
It’s one of the simplest ways to make sure your number reflects you—not what was on your hands.
Tagline:
Clean hands, clear numbers. 
