Alternative Site Testing (AST)
Important:
There are limitations for doing AST. Please consult your healthcare
professional before you do AST.
What is AST?
Alternative site testing (AST) means that
people use parts of the body other than
fingertips to check their blood glucose lev-
els. This system provides you to test on
the palm, the forearm, the upper arm, the
calf, and the thigh with the equivalent re-
sults to fingertip testing.
What's the advantage?
Fingertips feel pain more
readily because they are full
of nerve endings (receptors).
At other body sites, since
nerve endings were not so
condensed, you will not feel as
much pain as at the fingertip.
When to use AST?
Food, medication, illness, stress and exercise can affect blood glucose
levels. Capillary blood at fingertip reflects these changes faster than
capillary blood at other sites. Therefore when testing blood glucose dur-
ing or immediately after meal, physical exercise, or any other event,
take blood sample from your finger only.
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