Information for Healthcare Professionals
WARNING
Healthcare Professionals: Follow the infection control procedures appropriate for your
facility. Refer to the test strip package insert for additional healthcare professional
information.
Sample Handling
Always wear gloves when handling blood-contaminated items. Always adhere to the recognized procedures for
handling objects that are potentially contaminated with human material. Follow the hygiene and safety policy of
your laboratory or institution. Prepare the selected blood collection site per facility policy.
Refer to the test strip package insert for additional information regarding acceptable sample types, anticoagulants,
and handling instructions.
Recommending Alternative Site Testing to Patients
Decisions about whether to recommend Alternative Site Testing (AST) should take into account the motivation and
knowledge level of the patient and his or her ability to understand the considerations relative to diabetes and AST.
If you are considering recommending AST for your patients, you need to understand that there is a potential for a
significant difference between fingertip or palm test results and test results obtained from the forearm, upper arm,
thigh, or calf. The difference in capillary bed concentration and blood perfusion throughout the body can lead to
sample site-to-site differences in blood glucose results. These physiological effects vary between individuals and
can vary within a single individual based upon his or her behavior and relative physical condition.
66
Our studies involving alternative site testing of adults with diabetes show that most persons will find their glucose
level changes more quickly in blood from the fingertip or palm than in blood from the forearm, upper arm, thigh, or
calf.* This is especially important when blood glucose levels are falling or rising rapidly. If your patient is used to
making therapy decisions based upon fingertip or palm test results, he or she should consider the delay, or lag
time, affecting the test results obtained with blood from the forearm, upper arm, thigh, or calf.
*Data on file