Abstract: A blood sampling device is provided with a housing, a lancet assembly, a lancet holder disposed in the housing for supporting the lancet assembly, the lancet holder being movable in a lancing direction between a cocked position and a puncture position, a drive spring for forcing the lancet holder from the cocked position to the puncture position, and a mechanism for damping movement of the lancet holder during travel of the lancet holder from the puncture position to an intermediate position between the puncture position and the cocked position. The damping mechanism may be provided in the form of a non-planar surface, such as a corrugated surface, disposed on the lancet holder and a damping member which makes contact with the non-planar surface during movement of the lancet holder.

Abstract: A spectral cover for a reflectance photometer is disclosed in which the spectral cover is designed to cover the readhead area of the reflectance photometer and block the transmission of light in a wavelength range of at least 60 to no more than 200 nanometers centered about the detection wavelength while permitting light of other wavelengths to be transmitted. The invention permits the readhead cover to be permanently or semipermanently positioned on the reflectance photometer. Since a user is able to see through the spectral cover it is possible to position a test device correctly and quickly over the readhead of the reflectance photometer. Signal noise levels due to ambient light are substantially eliminated by the invention.