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.
