Piercing probes with offset conical piercing tip and fluid-sampling systems comprising the piercing probes

A fluid sampling system comprising:

• a piercing probe comprising:
• a body portion including a distal end of the piercing probe, the body portion having a width that defines an outside diameter of the piercing probe;
• a piercing portion opposite the distal end of the piercing probe, the piercing portion comprising a conical portion having a piercing tip;
• and
• a continuous lumen defined through the body portion and the piercing portion from a distal opening at the distal end of the piercing probe to a proximal opening of the piercing probe in the piercing portion, the inner wall of the continuous lumen having a width that defines an inside diameter of the piercing probe,
• wherein:
• the continuous lumen is centered about a primary longitudinal axis of the piercing probe;
• a longitudinal tip axis is defined through the piercing tip parallel to the primary longitudinal axis;
• and
• the longitudinal tip axis is offset from the primary longitudinal axis by an offset distance greater than zero;
• and
• a fluid-transfer device in fluidic communication with the distal opening of the piercing probe, the fluid transfer device configured to draw fluid through the continuous lumen and out the distal opening or to expel fluid through the continuous lumen and out of the proximal opening.