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Alternative Site Testing
Important: There are limitations with AST (Alternative Site Testing).
Please consult your health care professional before you perform
AST.
What is AST?
Alternative site testing (AST) means that
people use parts of the body other than
the
fi
ngertips to check their blood glucose
levels. This system allows you to test on
the palm, the forearm, the upper arm, the
calf or the thigh with results equivalent to
fi
ngertip testing.
What is the advantage?
Fingertips feel pain more readily because
they are full of nerve endings (receptors).
At other body sites, since nerve endings
are not so condensed, you will not feel as
much pain as on the
fi
ngertips.
When to use AST?
Food, medication, illness, stress and exercise can affect blood glucose
levels. Capillary blood at the
fi
ngertip re
fl
ects these changes faster
than capillary blood at other sites. Thus, when testing blood glucose
during or immediately after a meal, physical exercise, or any other
event,
take a blood sample from your finger only.
