Yeah, but...how do you know the swab's actually sterile?   I mean..?

I'm befuddled at the amount of hand disinfectants that are now being pushed on everyone. Anti-bacterial Swine Flu wipes....there's a whole business been born from Flu. Kinda weird, really. Makes you wonder how we ever survived BS. (Before Swabs)

"Soooo... why not clean the lancet with the swab and leave it in for at least several days?"

Why not?