Comparing Your Meter Result to a Lab Result
A common question is how the blood sugar results on your meter compare to the lab results. Your blood sugar can
change quickly, especially after eating, taking medication, or exercising. If you test yourself in the morning, then
go to the doctor's office for a blood sugar test, your results will probably not match, even if you are fasting. This is
typically not a problem with your meter, it just means that time has elapsed and your blood sugar has changed.
If you want to compare your meter result to the lab result, you must be fasting. Take your meter to the doctor's
office, and test yourself by fingerstick within five minutes of having blood drawn from your arm by a healthcare
professional. Keep in mind that the lab uses different technology than the meter, and that blood glucose meters for
self-testing generally read somewhat lower than the lab result.
If you are fasting and you do a fingerstick test within five minutes of having your blood drawn, here are the general
guidelines to compare your meter result to the lab result:
• If your blood sugar is below 75 mg/dL, your results generally should fall within ±15 mg/dL.
• If your blood sugar is equal to or over 75 mg/dL, your results generally should fall within ±20 %.
Chapter 3: Testing Your Blood Sugar
62
ACCU-CHEK Customer Care Service Center 1-800-858-8072