• Your finger tip is the most accurate site to draw a sample.No pictures image by Ales Susnik from Fotolia.com
  
  Glucose meters, such as Accu-Chek, allow diabetics to draw blood and analyze sugar levels to manage their condition. The American Diabetes Association reports there may be as many as 23.6 million children and adults with this disease in the United States. Accu-Chek offers approximately seven different models of glucose meters. Each system has its own procedures and standards. It is imperative to read the documentation before using a glucose meter. Following the proper steps to maintain and test with an Accu-Chek meter will help ensure reliable results.
  
  

Calibration

• Every time you open a new box of test strips, you must calibrate or code your meter. Calibrating the meter matches it to the current strip. This is how the meter provides accurate results. If you fail to calibrate the Accu-Chek, the coding remains set for the last strips and reports new samples inaccurately. The calibrations use a provided product found with each new vial of test strips, a code key of some form. Some meters use a plastic strip, others a bar code system. Regardless of the model you use, all meters code or calibrate in some fashion.
  
  

Control Test

• Control tests verify the meter and strips work properly and produce reliable results. After coding, run a control test; think of this as a quality measure to detect any problems with the meter or strip. For example, if you drop your meter, you will want to test the device. Some units will prompt you to run a test by flashing "CTRL" in the display window. The steps to run the control test are meter specific. Once you perform a test following the instructions for your model, compare the results to the control standards on the strip vial. The quality control readings must fall within range to confirm the strips and meter work properly.
  
  

Alternative Site Testing

• Most tests use blood from your fingertip. There may be times when you want to get the sample from a different location. For example, an injury to your hand may keep you from testing normally. Accu-Chek recommends talking to your doctor before using a different site to produce a sample. Possible test sites include the palm, forearm, upper arm, thigh or calf. Testing from an alternate site has restrictions. If you choose to use an alternate site, test right before you eat. Eating affects the results of your test. Do not use an alternative site immediately after a meal or exercise. If you feel your blood sugar is low--hypoglycemic--you must check from your fingertip for accurate results. The form of insulin you take may affect your ability to use any location other than your fingertip. Some insulin, such as short-acting or rapid-acting insulin analogues, has a peak period during which you should test only from your fingertip.