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Frequently Asked Questions

Testing blood sugar (Glucose)

It's a small sample—just 0.6 microlitre.

The system automatically detects when enough blood has been applied to the strip and begins the test, even if some yellow is still visible. The only time you need to apply more blood is when the blood drop symbol continues to flash in the display.

An E4 error message will display on the meter, indicating not enough blood was drawn into the test strip for measurement or blood was applied after the test had started. You should discard the test strip and repeat the blood glucose test.

Yes. In addition to the fingertip, you can collect blood samples from the palm, forearm or upper arm. Talk with your healthcare professional before deciding if alternate site monitoring is right for you.

Your Accu-Chek FastClix lancing device has a special plastic cap designed for monitoring on other areas of the body. Talk with your healthcare professional before deciding if alternate site monitoring is right for you.

Note: Do not use the special plastic cap when monitoring at the fingertip. Follow the steps for fingertip monitoring, with a few differences:

  • Use the clear or gray cap.
  • You may need a deeper setting. Try 3 for your palm or 5-1/2 for your forearm or upper arm. (These are suggested settings; yours may differ.)
  • Press the opening of the clear or gray cap firmly against a fleshy area of the non-fingertip site. Press the lancing device up and down in a slow pumping motion to assist the flow of blood.
  • Keep steady pressure on the area, then press and release the plunger. Do not be afraid to apply pressure to the area with the lancing device to assist the flow of blood. Continue to press the cap against the site for a few seconds to allow blood to come to the surface.

Meter care and batteries

Cleaning is simply removing dirt from the meter, while disinfecting refers to removal of most but not all, disease-causing and other types of microorganisms.

  • 70% isopropyl alcohol
  • Mild dishwashing liquid mixed with water

10% household bleach solution (1 part bleach plus 9 parts water) made the same day

Be sure to clean the areas around slots and openings, while being careful not to get any moisture in them. You should also wipe down the entire meter surface, including the meter display.

Visit your meter's Screen Messages page for a list of messages and definitions or download the User Manual (insert appropriate link) for your meter.

Special features

There are three types of averages: general, pre-meal and post-meal. To view results and averages, press and release left and right arrows to view stored results. The most recent test result appears on the display.

  • Press the left arrow to view previous test results from newest to oldest.
  • Press the right arrow to view 7-, 14-, 30- and 90-day general averages
  • Continue to press the right arrow to view 7-, 14-, 30- and 90-day pre-meal and post-meal averages

To mark a test result or set a post-meal reminder:

  1. Perform a test. The result appears on the display.
  2. Leave the test strip in the meter. Press and release or to toggle through test result markers and the post-meal reminder:
    • Pre -meal marker
    • Pre-meal marker with post-meal reminder
    • Post-meal marker
    • General marker
  3. When the marker or test reminder you wish to select appears on the display, remove the test strip from the meter. 

Test Strips and control tests

No. Accu-Chek Performa blood glucose meters are designed exclusively for use with Accu-Chek Performa test strips.

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