Obtaining the amount of blood needed for accurate testing is so easy you’ll wonder why you ever needed to rely on a professional lab! Our in-depth training will ensure you are familiar with your meter and have everything you need to get an accurate reading of your INR levels.

Watch the video: How to Perform a Self-Test   

How to Perform a Successful Test

What’s involved in performing a successful? Follow these steps for an accurate reading every time:

    >   Warm up your hands. Wash your hands in warm, soapy water for one to two
         minutes to clean and improve circulation. Dry hands thoroughly.

    >   Fingertip selection. Choose the ring finger or pinky finger which are usually
         less calloused and easier to obtain a larger sample from. Always use a new
         fingertip and fresh blood sample when testing.

    >   Increase circulation. Massage from your palm to the first knuckle of your chosen
         finger to increase blood flow. NOTE: Do NOT squeeze or massage your fingertips
         themselves as this may affect your INR result.

    >   Insert a lancet into the lancet device. Remove the protective cap, and then put
         the top back on. Set the device to your preferred depth setting.

    >   Insert the strip into the meter. Inserting the strip will power on the meter. Press
         the M button on the meter only after confirming the 3 digit code matches that of
         the 3 digit code on your vial of testing strips. As you wait for the meter’s prompt to
         lance your finger, dangle your hand at your side.

    >   The meter will prompt you to lance your finger. Most people find that it is easiest
         to rest your hand, palm up on a flat surface before lancing so the hand remains
         steady. For best results, use the side of either your ring finger or pinky finger
         for testing.

    >   Large sample size. After lancing, massage the base of your finger to obtain a
         hanging drop of blood approximately the size of a green pea or
         small ladybug.

    >   Apply the blood drop to the clear portion of the strip. Once you hear the beep, the
         meter has begun to test the sample. Do not touch or move the meter.

    >   Report the result of the test. There are 3 ways to report results, all of them
         easy and convenient. Find your convenient method of reporting results here.

That’s it! No lab, no doctor visits, and no fuss. You can now get on with your life.