Information For Healthcare Professionals - Accu-Chek Performa Owner's Booklet

Information for Healthcare Professionals

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Healthcare Professionals: Follow the infection control procedures
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appropriate for your facility.
A drop of fresh, whole blood is required to perform a blood glucose test. Fresh venous, capillary,
arterial, or neonatal blood may be used. Caution should be taken to clear arterial lines before
blood is drawn. Caution should be exercised in the interpretation of neonate blood glucose values
below 2.8 mmol/L. Blood glucose determination with venous or arterial blood must be performed
within 30 minutes of sample collection. Avoid air bubbles with the use of pipettes. Fresh venous
blood specimens containing the anticoagulants EDTA or heparin are acceptable. Iodoacetate or
fluoride/oxalate are not recommended.
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/palm and alternative site blood glucose test results. The difference in capillary bed
concentration and blood perfusion throughout the body can lead to sample site-to-site differences
in 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
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