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Alternative Site Testing
Blood samples for glucose testing may be taken from sites
other than your fingertips. Alternative site testing using
lood from the forearm or palm may give glucose results that
significantly differ from fingertip blood. Differences occur
when blood glucose levels are changing rapidly, such as after a
meal, after insulin, during or after exercise.
The forearm and palm areas have less nerve endings than the
fingertip. You may find that obtaining blood from these sites
are less painful than from the fingertip. The procedure for
forearm and palm sampling is different. You need the clear cap
to draw blood from these sites. The clear cap is not adjustable
for puncture depth. Follow Step 1 and 2 of “Preparing the
Lancing Device” to insert the lancet and load the lancing
device.
1. Screw the clear cap onto the lancing device.
2. Choose a puncture site on the forearm or palm. Select a
soft and fleshy area of the forearm and palm that is clean
and dry, away from bone, and free of visible veins and hair.
To bring fresh blood to the surface of the puncture site,
massage the puncture site vigorously for a few seconds until
you feel it getting warm.