Information About Alternative Site Testing (Ast); What Is Alternate Site Testing; What Is The Advantage Of Alternative Site Testing; When To Use Alternative Site Testing - iHealth BG5 Owner's Manual

INFORMATION ABOUT ALTERNATIVE SITE TESTING (AST)

There are limitations for doing AST. Please consult your
healthcare professional before you conduct AST. The
Wireless Smart Gluco-Monitoring System limits usage to
steady-state blood glucose conditions only.

What is Alternate Site Testing?

Alternate Site Testing (AST) is blood glucose self-monitoring
using a blood sample collected from somewhere other than
the fingertips. The Wireless Smart Gluco-Monitoring System
(BG5) allows you to test on the palm, forearm, upper arm,
calf, or thigh with equivalent results to fingertip testing.
Upper Arm
Forearm
Palm
Finger

What is the Advantage of Alternative Site Testing?

Pain is felt more readily on the fingertips because they are
full of nerve endings (receptors). At other body sites where
nerve endings are not so condensed, pain is not felt as
acutely.
Thigh
Calf
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When to Use Alternative Site Testing?

Food, medication, illness, stress and exercise can affect
blood glucose levels. Capillary blood from the fingertips
reflects these changes faster than capillary blood from other
sites. Therefore, when testing blood glucose levels during or
immediately after one of these , such as meals or exercise,
take a blood sample from your fingertips only. AST should
be done only during steady–state times when glucose levels
are not changing rapidly.
AST is suitable in the following instances:
• In a pre-meal or fasting state (two hours or more after the
last meal)
• Two hours or more after taking insulin
• Two hours or more after exercising
Caution: AST should not be used to calibrate continuous
glucose monitoring systems (CGMs). Results from AST
should not be used in insulin dose calculations. Do not use
AST if:
• You think your blood glucose is low
• You believe you may be hypoglycemic
• You are testing for hyperglycemia
• Your routine glucose results fluctuate often
• You are pregnant
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