A blood sampling device (1) comprising a housing (10) and a lancet (50). The housing has a fixed abutment surface for holdingly engaging the lancet in a rearward primed position. The blood sampling device further comprises a trigger (22) moveable from a rest position to a fire position to release the lancet for forward movement, wherein the trigger deflects the lancet body in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing such that the lancet body may move forwardly past the fixed abutment surface.