An activation/retraction mechanism for a lancing device comprising:a pusher (10； 20； 30； 40； 50) comprising a first biasing member (11； 66； 51) arranged to displace the pusher in a distal direction；and a lancet holder (15； 25； 35； 45； 55) comprising a lancet (16) for penetrating the skin of a subject, and a second bi- asing member (17； 47； 57) arranged to displace the lancet holder in a proximal direction； wherein the lancet holder and the pusher are arranged in a housing (12； 42) of the lancing device in such a way that a distal end (13； 23； 33； 43； 53) of the pusher engages a proximal end (18； 28； 38； 48； 58) of the lancet holder to push the lancet holder in a distal direction when the first biasing member dis- places the pusher distally. The distal end of the pusher and the proximal end of the lancet holder are arranged to disengage from each other when the pusher has been displaced distally a predetermined length from its initial posi- tion, whereby the lancet holder may return to its initial position under influ- ence of the second biasing member.A lancing device comprising such an acti- vation/retraction mechanism is also disclosed.
