How to start

• Wash and dry your hand thoroughly.
• Check the shelf life time of the test strips (you find them on the label of the test strip vial).
• Keep the On/Off button pressed when switching on the device and check the correct function of the display. Release the button. The meter is ready for testing. As an alternative, the meter turns on when inserting  the test strip.
  • If the Error Message Temperature (Error message: Meter temperature is outside of the usage temperature range) is displayed, go to a place within the usage temperature. Do not try to warm up (hair-dryer) or cool (refrigerator) the meter.
  • If the meter is exposed to a fast change of temperature (from inside to outside), do not use the meter at least 5 min (optimum 30 min) in the new temperature environment.
• When measuring, avoid places
  • with wind,
  • in front of a heater or an air conditioner,
  • where many people are together.

Check the calibration

• Check if the code on the test strip vial, you want to withdraw the test strip from, matches the one displayed on the meter.
  • If the code does not match when using the model GlucoSmart® Plus or GlucoSmart®, adjust the code by following the instructions of the user manual.
    For GlucoSmart® Swing, an adjustment of the code is not necessary. If you should not yet use GlucoSmart® Swing, please ask us for information on an exchange.
     

Insert the test strip

• Insert the test strip with the gold contacts forward and the print facing up into the meter.
  • When correctly inserted, a signal resounds.
  • Do not insert the test strip several times into the meter! Multiple insertions risk to damage the test strip contacts.

Puncture

Read also the information on the usage of the lancing device

• Unscrew the lancing device
• Insert a new, sterile lancet.
• Unscrew the protective cap.
• Screw the lancing device and draw the lancing device.
• Leave the hand - you want to use for the puncture - hanging down or throw the hand (this increases the blood presence in the fingers and eases taking the blood probe).
• Check the adjustment of the lancing device with the setting ring gage
  • Level 2 for normal skin (GlucoSmart lancing device).
  • If the puncture hurts, try a lower setting.
  • Use the 3-time facetted GlucoSmart lancets
• Trigger the lancing device
• Avoid the sensitive fingertip, do the puncture at the side of the finger
• Use preferably not the thumb or forefinger, which you use for handling parts.

Probe gathering

• Use both thumbs to press slightly the blood from the base of the finger in direction to the puncture until a little blood bowl is available. Do not press directly at the puncture to avoid pressing out lymph fluid, which can falsify the measurement.
• Lead the test strips capillary sidewards to the blood bowl with the test strip nearly parallel to the surface of the skin for to keep the capillary open. The opening of the capillary of the test strip is marked.
  If blood is absorbed fast until the measurement countdown starts, the statistic deviation of the measurement result will deviate only very little from a reference measurement (at GlucoSmart normally below 5% For information: The measurement results of blood glucose meters for self use are according to Norm EN ISO 15197:2003 by 95%:
  • when the measurement range is < 75mg/dl (4,2mmol/l): within +/- 15mg/dl (0,83mmol/l) and -
  • when the measurement range is >/= 75mg/dl (4,2mmol/l) within +/- 20% from the laboratory reference value (target).
  Notice:
  • Customer complaints about exactness of the measurement have their reason mostly in the wrong angle of the test strip to the blood bowl.
    (A right angle to the surface is wrong! This will eventually close the opening of the capillary).
  • A sufficient size of the blood bowl drawn without interruption within the capillary is the precondition for an exact measurement result.
  • As the measurement process starts up with the blood entering the capillary, no second try is allowed to complete the filling, because this would falsify the measurement result! If the sight window is not filled completely, repeat the measurement with a new test strip. Sufficient blood for a correct measurement was provided, if the (GlucoSmart® & GlucoSmart®: , big) control window is completely filled). GlucoSmart® Swing controls the bood probe quanitiy by a check electrode on the test strip and will display an error, if the blood probe was not sufficient, or if the probe was applied at the wrong side of the capillary.
    In such case, correct your blood application method and apply the blood to a new inserted test strip.
  • Place the meter during the measurement countdown carefully. A shock or vibrations might cause false measuring results.