Accu-Chek Aviva NANO - Manuel (Page 43)

Technical Information
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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 Alternate Site Testing to Patients
Decisions about whether to recommend Alternate 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 test results and test results obtained from the palm,
forearm, or upper arm. 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.
Our studies involving alternate site testing of adults with diabetes show that most persons will find their
glucose level changes more quickly in blood from the fingertip than in blood from the palm, forearm, or
upper arm.* 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 test results, he or she should consider the delay,
or lag time, affecting the test results obtained with blood from the palm, forearm, or upper arm.
*Data on file
51689_05958458003_CA_EN.indb 41 9/3/13 4:10 PM