A lancing device includes a main barrel portion 10 to the front end of which is hinged a forward portion for movement between the open position shown in FIG. 1 and a closed position. The main barrel portion 10 contains a drive mechanism, cocking slider and trigger, while the forward portion contains a lancet holder into which a lancet may be loaded front end first. Also disclosed is a lancing device having a main housing having a forward nose portion to the rear of which is a flip up lancet hatch into which a lancet may be loaded front end first.
