The Accu-Chek InstantPlus System meter measures blood cholesterol and glucose. Roche Diagnostics Corp., located in Indiana, manufactures and distributes the meter through its Point of Care, or POC, division. While Accu-Chek is the Roche company that distributes patient products, the Roche POC division distributes products intended for health care facilities and professionals. The Accu-Chek InstantPlus System product handbook includes instructions for coding, cleaning and use of the monitor. The manual describes the same procedure for testing cholesterol and glucose.
Code the Monitor
Step 1
Code the monitor whenever you begin using a new box of Accu-Chek InstantPlus cholesterol test strips or Accu-Chek Instant glucose test strips or when the monitor display reads "- - -," which means there is no code stored in the monitor. Turn on the monitor, leave the protective cover closed and remove the code strip from its paper covering. Insert the strip into the meter as far as possible without bending it, and remove it immediately. Confirm that the code in the monitor display window matches the code printed in the gray area on the test strip vial.
Step 2
Turn on the monitor, leave the protective cover closed and confirm that the code number, date and day appear in the display window along with the flashing word "CODE."
Step 3
Check the code listed in the gray box on the test strip vial to ensure it matches the code in the monitor display window. If the codes do not match, repeat the coding process.
Perform Cholesterol Test
Step 1
Remove a test strip from the vial and close the vial cap quickly. Handle the test strip carefully without touching the read area on the back or the yellow test pad.
Step 2
Insert the test strip into the slot on the meter. Insert the strip in the direction of the arrows as far as possible without bending the strip. The slot for insertion is located at the bottom of the meter. The monitor will read the test strip, beep twice and stop flashing the word "CODE."
Step 3
Open the protective monitor cover. If you have properly run a total cholesterol test, the monitor display will flash "180 secs."
Step 4
Clean the fingertip you intend to use for testing.
Step 5
Prick the fingertip with a lancet device, wipe away the first blood drop, and use a capillary pipette to capture the second drop of blood for testing. If you perform a cholesterol test after performing a glucose test, draw the blood from a different finger than the one used for the glucose test.
Step 6
Apply the second blood drop using the capillary pipette to totally cover the yellow test pad on the test strip without smearing the blood. Be careful not to touch the test pad with the pipette and do not apply more blood, such as from a third drop, to the test pad.
Step 7
Close the protective cover on the monitor immediately after applying the blood to the test strip. The test is invalidated if the cover is left open for more than five seconds after applying the blood to the test strip.
Step 8
Read the test result, which is displayed immediately and recorded in the monitor's memory.
Step 9
Open the protective monitor cover to remove the test strip and close the cover when done.
Tips and Warnings
- Clean the monitor and the test strip guide regularly using a lint-free cotton cloth and a gentle cleaning solution made of household cleaning liquid and water or nine parts water and one part bleach. Open the protective monitor cover and remove the black test strip guide to clean it and both windows located under it. Roche Point of Care Diagnostics also distributes the AccuTrend Plus System, which measures blood cholesterol and glucose.
- Discard the used test strip and lancets in a proper container, such as a sharps container for hazardous medical material.
Things You'll Need
- Accu-Check InstantPlus cholesterol test strips
- Lancet
- Capillary pipette
