Blood sampling system and method

A method for drawing and storing blood from a user for analysis with a system comprising a receptacle, a lancet device, a vacuum device, and a housing, the housing having a first end and a second end and wherein the housing has a recessed portion at the second end thereof, the receptacle having a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite the first end and being sealed to support reduced pressure in the receptacle, the first end of the receptacle being configured for insertion into an opening of the housing to engage the area of skin of the user, the opening for the receptacle and the lancet device being between the first end of the housing and the recessed portion, and the lancet device disposed within and movable within the receptacle between the first end and the second end thereof, wherein the lancet device and the receptacle are positioned along a first axis of the housing at the first end of the housing, the vacuum device being disposed along a second axis, the first axis extending in a first direction and the second axis extending in a second direction, the second direction being different than the first direction;

• the method comprising:
• engaging, with the receptacle, an area of skin of the user at a blood draw location;
• puncturing, with the lancet device, the skin of the user at the blood draw location;
• reducing, with the vacuum device, a pressure within the receptacle (1) such that the skin at the blood draw location is drawn into the receptacle before the lancet device punctures the skin, and (2) to enhance blood flow while blood is drawn from the user;
• and
• storing, with the receptacle, blood drawn from the user,
• wherein the storing comprises absorbing, with a blood storage substrate, blood from the punctured skin, wherein the blood storage substrate is disposed within the receptacle at or near the first end thereof and wherein the blood storage substrate comprises a solid, liquid, or gel stabilization matrix,
• wherein the receptacle, the lancet device, and the vacuum device are housed within the housing and configured to draw and store at least 1.0 ml of blood during drawing of blood and said storing,
• wherein the receptacle and the lancet device are modular and removably coupled with the housing, the lancet device being removable together with the receptacle from said opening of the housing, and
• wherein the vacuum device is modular and removably coupled with the housing, the vacuum device being separately removable from the recessed portion of the housing and relative to the receptacle.