ENTNAHMEEINRICHTUNG UND VERFAHREN BEI ANWENDUNG EINES ABGESTUFTEN KAPILLARENDURCHGANGES

Systems and methods for the sampling of bodily fluid from an incision in the skin utilize a capillary passageway (18) having a first, upstream portion (39) and a second, downstream portion (41), with the downstream portion (41) having a higher capillary affinity for the bodily fluid than the upstream portion (39). Therefor, when the first portion (39) is filled and the fluid contacts the second portion (41), the fluid is drawn up into the second portion (41) due to the greater capillary affinity. The capillary affinities are controlled by the cross-sectional area of the passageway (18), the use of different materials or coatings to define the passageway, the treatment of the interior wall of the passageway, the use of wicking materials, and the like. The capillary sampling systems and methods are optionally combined with incising, expressing and/or testing systems, particularly in a single, integrated device.