ACCU-CHEK®

Checking Accu-Chek Compact

To ensure reliable results, you must periodically check the performance of your Accu-Chek Compact. Do this by running a quality control check using Compact Control Solutions.

When should I check my Accu-Chek Compact system?

When you open a new pack of test strips.
After you have replaced the batteries.
If your meter flashes "CTRL", indicating that a quality control test is required.
After you have cleaned your meter.
If your blood test does not agree with how you feel.

Running a quality Control Test

For the quality control test, please have the following items ready:

Your Accu-Chek Active meter with the coding chip
inserted.
The pack of Accu-Chek Active Glucose test strips you
took the coding chip from,
The Accu-Chek Active Control solutions.
Carefully read the pack inserts that came with the test strips
and the control solutions, and select a control solution.

Remove a test strip from its container. Close the container immediately. The cap contains a drying agent which ceases to function if the container is left open, rendering the test strips unusable.
Check the round control window on the back of the test strip against the colour scale printed on the test strip container. The colour of the control window must match that of the colour interval at the top (0 mmol/L). If the test strip shows a different colour, do not use it.
Hold the test strip so that the application area and arrows are facing upwards. Gently push the test strip in the direction of the arrows into the test strip guide (4) of your Accu-Chek Active meter, until you hear it click into place.

Inserting the test strip automatically puts the meter in Test Mode. Please remember that your Accu-Chek Active meter automatically turns off after about 1-2 minutes of non-use (i.e. when no button is pressed). If this happens, remove the test strip and repeat the procedure described above with a new test strip.

Now watch the display.

The meter performs a display test lasting 2 seconds. Check that all the segments making up the numerals ("888" or "88.8") are properly displayed. If a segment is missing, test results may be displayed inaccurately (e.g. through 9 being confused with 3). If this happens, call your customer support and service centre.
The current code number then appears in the display. Is this the number printed on the test strip container? If not, check that you really did insert the coding chip from the new pack. If "code" is flashing and you see three horizontal bars (---) instead of a number, you have not inserted the coding chip. You can still do this now (while the display is flashing).
Check that the correct date and time are displayed.

When the display test has been successfully completed and the code number matches, your Accu-Chek Active meter is ready for testing. The display screen that follows signals:

That the test strip has been inserted.
The flashing drop symbol is your cue to apply the control solution (blood in the case of a real test).

To make quality control results stand out later from blood glucose test results, you can place what is known as a "flag" against them.

Press the S button once. In the display you see an hour-glass symbol along with the control test flag (a bottle with the letter "C"). You can insert the flag at this point. If you pressed the S button inadvertently, you can press it again (before testing is complete) in order to remove the flag.

Apply one drop of the selected control solution to the application area of the test strip.
Your Accu-Chek Active meter beeps briefly to acknowledge application of solution and to announce the start of testing.
After 5 seconds a second beep signal indicates that testing is complete, and the result appears in the display. If you have not already flagged this quality control result, you may do so now.

The value displayed here is an example. The result shown on your Accu-Chek Active meter will not necessarily agree.

Now check that the displayed value is within the permitted range. Examine the test strip container and locate the "Accu-Chek Active Control" table.

The table has two rows listed as "1" and "2", as well as two columns giving ranges in mg/dL and mmol/L.

If you performed the test with Accu-Chek Active Control 1, see row 1 for the permitted range.
If you performed the test with Accu-Chek Active Control 2, see row 2 for the permitted range.

If the result is within the stated range, all you need do still is carry out a visual plausibility test. It is important that this check be performed within 30-60 seconds after control solution was applied. Any later than this and comparison is no longer possible owing to excessive discolouration of the test strip.

If the result is outside the stated range, perform a second quality control test. If the second result is still outside the range, please call your customer support and service centre.

Pull the strip out of the meter. The result is saved as a control reading (which is ignored when the averages are calculated), and the meter switches off.
Turn over the test strip to reveal the circular control window on the back.
On the label of the test strip container is a colour scale with blood glucose values printed alongside. Select the blood glucose value that best approximates the reading you obtained.
Compare the colour of the control window with the colour you selected on the label.

The colours must be a fairly close match. If there is a great disparity, repeat the test. If you cannot obtain a close match even after several attempts at testing, please call your customer support and service centre. If the colours are a close match, quality control testing of your Accu-Chek Active meter has been successfully concluded. The meter is now ready to perform further blood glucose tests.

If the measurement optics or any other part of your Accu-Chek Active become soiled during testing, please clean the meter as instructed in 'Cleaning The Meter' section below.

The standard power-on display test checks the most important display elements. To verify that all of the elements are functioning correctly, you can carry out a full test.

Press and hold down the M and S buttons together for longer than 3 seconds.
All the elements of the liquid crystal display (LCD) are shown at once. Either “mmol/L” or “mg/dL” will be visible depending on the country-specific setting.
Press any key to terminate the display test and turn off your Accu-Chek Active meter. If you do not press a key, the meter will shut off automatically after about 2 minutes.

Cleaning The Meter

Your Accu-Chek Active meter has no moving parts and so will not suffer any mechanical wear and tear. As with any precision instrument, however, you will need to look after it carefully to keep it at its best.

A potential infection risk exists. Medical staff and other persons using Accu-Chek Active to test blood glucose from more than one patient must be aware that any item coming into contact with human blood is a potential source of infection. (Please see "Protection of Laboratory Workers from Infectious Diseases Transmitted by Blood, Body Fluids, and Tissues"; Second Edition, Tentative Guideline, 1991, Document M29-T2, National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards).

Accu-Chek Active utilises an optical measuring method that relies heavily on all of its components being clean. Be sure to clean the meter, therefore

whenever it is showing signs of soiling, however slight (especially on the test strip guide or the measurement optics located below it),
whenever you open a new pack of test strips,
every 2 months at the latest.

Clean the measurement optics carefully with nothing other than cold water, soft lint-free cloths and cotton swabs. For disinfection you may use 70% alcohol. Any other cleaning agents may damage the meter or impair its measuring function.

Slide off the test strip guide towards you (see illustration).
After removal of the test strip guide from the meter, clean it with cold water.
Afterwards you may wipe the test strip guide with 70% alcohol.
Wipe off the alcohol immediately from the test strip guide and allow it to dry thoroughly.

Wipe the measurement optics components with a soft lint-free cloth and/or a cotton swab. The cloth/cotton swab may be slightly moistened. Make sure that no liquid enters the meter itself. Avoid scratching the measurement optics, as this will impair the measuring function.
When all of the components are thoroughly dry, you may slide the test strip guide back onto the meter. Ensure it clicks back into place.

Then perform a quality control test.

Storing The Meter

Light conditions

Do not carry out a test where the meter and test strips are exposed to direct sunlight.
If the light is too bright; a symbol will appear in the display of your Accu-Chek Active meter.
If you see this symbol, find a shady location to carry out the test, or use your own body as a screen.
Avoid measuring in places where the light level is very changeable. Flash photography, for instance, can affect the result.

Atmospheric humidity

Relative humidity must be below 85%.
Sudden changes in temperature cause condensation within the meter. You may find you are unable to turn on your Accu-Chek Active. Allow the meter to return slowly to room temperature, and never keep it in a room that is likely to harbour condensation (e.g. a bathroom).

Sources of interference

Strong electromagnetic fields (found, for example, near mobile telephones, CB stations and microwave ovens) may affect the meter's performance. Accu-Chek Active detects this type of interference and displays an error message. Indoors stay at least 2 metres away from such sources of interference; if necessary, move somewhere else.