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COMPARING METER AND LABORATORY RESULTS
The meter provides you with whole blood equivalent results.
The result you obtain from your meter may differ somewhat from your
laboratory result due to normal variation. Meter results can be affected
by factors and conditions that do not affect laboratory results in the same
way. (See test strip package insert for typical accuracy and precision
data, and for important information on Limitations). To make an accurate
comparison between meter and laboratory results, follow the guide-lines
below.
Before you go to the lab:
It is best to fast for at least eight hours before doing comparison tests.
Take your meter with you to the lab.
While at the lab:
Make sure that the samples for both tests (the meter test and the lab test
are taken and tested within 15 minutes of each other).
Wash your hands before obtaining a blood sample.
Never use your meter with blood that has been collected in a gray-top
test tube.
Use fresh capillary blood only.
You may still have a variation from the result because blood glucose levels
can change significantly over short periods, especially if you have recently
eaten, exercised, taken medication, or experienced stress*
3
. In addition, if
you have eaten recently, the blood glucose level from a finger stick can be
up to 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) higher than blood drawn from a vein (venous
sample) used for a lab test*
4
.Therefore, it is best to fast for eight hours
before doing comparison tests. Factors such as the amount of red blood
cells in the blood (a high or low hematocrit ) or the loss of body fluid (severe
dehydration) may also cause a meter result to be different from a labora-
tory result.