ALTERNATIVE SITE TESTING (AST)
Important: There are limitations for doing AST.
Please consult your healthcare professional before you begin AST.
What is AST?
Alternative site testing (AST) refers
to when individuals check their blood
glucose levels using areas of the body
otherthanngertip.Thissystemallows
AST at the palm, the forearm, the upper
arm, the calf or the thigh with results as
reliableasthoseobtainedfromngertip
testing.
What’s the advantage?
Fingertips feel pain more readily because they are full of nerve
endings (receptors). Since nerve endings are not so condensed at
other body sites, tests performed there will be less painful.
When to use AST?
Food, medication, illness, stress and exercise can affect blood
glucoselevels.Capillarybloodatthengertipreectsthesechanges
faster than capillary blood at other sites. Therefore, when testing
bloodglucoseduringorimmediatelyafteramealorphysicalexercise,
results from AST and ngertip may be signicantly different.
