User Manual

 Comparing With Laboratory Results

Results obtained from your monitor may differ somewhat from your laboratory

result due to normal variation. Monitor results can be affected by factors and

conditions that do not affect laboratory results in the same way.

Blood glucose levels can change significantly over short periods, especially if

you have recently exercised, eaten, taken medication, or experienced stress.

The glucose level of blood from fingertip would be higher than blood from a

vein (venous sample) used in lab tests if you have eaten recently. The

difference can be as high as 3.9 mmol/L (70 mg/dL). Therefore, it is best to

fast for eight hours before doing comparison tests.

Before you go to the lab:

 Perform a control solution test to make sure that the monitor is working

properly.

 It is best to fast for eight hours before comparison test. Take your monitor

with you to the lab.

While at the lab:

 Make sure that the samples for both tests (the monitor test and the lab test)

are taken and tested within 15 minutes of each other.

 Wash your hands before obtaining a blood sample.

 For the monitor test, use fresh blood from the fingertip only.

 Never use your monitor with blood that has been collected in a gray-cap test

tube.

 Factors such as irregular amount of red blood cells in the blood (a high or low

hematocrit) or loss of body fluid (severe dehydration) may also cause

differences between the monitor result and the laboratory result.

References

1. Surwit, R.S., and Feinglos, M.N.: Diabetes Forecast (1988), April, 49-51

2. Sacks, DB: "Carbohydrates." Burtis, CA, and Ashwood, ER (ed.), Tietz

Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company (1994)

HOW TO MEASURE BLOOD GLUCOSE