What Is The Advantage Of Alternate Site Testing; When Should You Use Alternate Site Testing - iHealth Gluco-Monitoring System Owner's Manual

Caution When performing Alternate Site Testing, please
remember to change the cap of the lancing device to the clear
cap specially designed for AST.
There are limitations for doing AST. Please consult your
healthcare professional before you conduct AST. The iHealth
system should only be used for AST under steady-state blood
glucose conditions.

What is the Advantage of Alternate Site Testing?

Pain is felt more readily on the ngertips 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.

When Should You Use Alternate Site Testing?

Food, medication, illness, stress, and exercise can a ect blood
glucose levels. Capillary blood from the ngertips re ects these
changes faster than capillary blood from other sites. Therefore,
when testing blood glucose levels during or immediately after
meals or exercise, or when another of the above-noted
conditions applies, take a blood sample from your ngertips
only. AST should be used only during steady-state times when
glucose levels are not changing rapidly.
Alternate Site Testing 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: Alternate Site Testing should not be used to calibrate
continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGMs). Results from
Alternate Site Testing should not be used in insulin dose
calculations. Do not use AST if:
•
You think your blood glucose is low
•
You are unaware that you might have hypoglycemia
•
You are testing for hyperglycemia
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