Palmdoc I - What Is AST?; What Is the Advantage of AST?; When Should I Use AST?; About Alternative Site Testing (AST)

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11. About alternative site testing (AST)
Note that there are important limitations when
doing AST. Please consult your healthcare
professional before you perform AST.
What is AST?
Alternative site testing (AST) means you can
use parts of the body other than your ngertips
to check your blood glucose levels. The system
allows you to test from the palm, forearm,
upper arm, calf or thigh, with equivalent
results to ngertip testing.
What is the advantage of AST?
Fingertips feel pain more readily because they
are full of nerve endings (receptors). At other
body sites, nerve endings are not so numerous
and you will not feel as much pain as you will
experience at the ngertip.
When should I use AST?
Food, medication, illness, stress and exercise
can affect blood glucose levels. Capillary blood
at the ngertip reects these changes faster
than capillary blood at other sites. Therefore, if
you are testing your blood glucose level during
or immediately after a meal, physical exercise
or stressful event, take the blood sample from
your ngertip only.
11. About alternative site testing (AST)