What is Alternative Site Testing(AST)?
Usually, when someone tests their glucose, they take the
blood sample from the tip of the finger. However, since there
are many nerve endings distributed there, it can be quite
painful. When doing a glucose test, using different parts
of the body such as the arms, palms, thighs, and calves can
reduce the pain during testing. This method of testing with
different parts of the body other than the fingertips is called
Alternative Site Testing. While AST may reduce the pain
during testing, it may not be simple for everyone and the
following precautions should be observed during testing.
Alternative Site for Testing
(during the two hours after a meal, insulin dose or
exercise)
test value
(hypoglycemic unawareness)
machinery
ALTERNATIVE SITE TESTING
Please understand the following things before testing outside
of the fingertip (arms, palm, thighs, calves). The capillary
blood of the fingertip shows the change in glucose more
rapidly than AST. Therefore, the test results from the fingertip
test and AST may differ. This is because things such as lifestyle
and ingested food have an effect on glucose levels.
Vacuum-assisted lancing devices are useful in collecting blood
from alternative sites. It is possible to use regular lancing
devices for alternative sites by piercing deeper than when
sampling from fingertips and pressing slightly against the skin.
ACCEPTABLE SITUATIONS FOR AST
SITUATIONS REQUIRING FINGERTIP TEST
Alternative Site Blood Sampling (forearm, palm, thigh, calf)
Select a clean, soft and fleshy sample site area free of visible
veins and hair and away from bones. Gently massage the
sample site to help blood circulation to minimize result
differences between fingertip and alternative site sampling.
Firmly press and hold the lancing device against site. Wait
until the skin surface under the lancing device changes color.
Then press the release button while continuing to apply
until sufficient (at least 0.5 µL, actual size: ) blood is drawn.
Carefully lift the lancing device away from your skin.
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