Frequently Asked Questions
Checking blood sugar
General questions
No, The Accu-Chek Mobile meter and Accu-Chek FastClix finger pricker are intended for patient self-monitoring by an individual person only. They must not be used to collect blood from more than one person as they do not have any features to guard them against cross-infection.
The motor as well as the mechanism has been designed to last for at least 10,000 tests. Additionally, the stability has been tested with a number of drop and vibration tests.
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is a label containing a memory chip and an antenna using radio waves for the communication between the reader (the Accu-Chek Mobile) and the tag (the label on the cassette). The RFID tag is placed within an adhesive label.
All lot-specific coding information is stored in the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag with an overwrite-protection. There is no way to change the stored information in the RFID tag.
Test Cassette
The new test cassette is the result of our constant effort to improve our products. We want to offer you the best possible test experience together with the highest standards of quality.
The main difference is the guidance tabs which prevent unintentional contact of the skin with the test area.
You can recognise that you have a new test cassette by the green label on the test cassette package which says “Improved test cassette”. The main visible change of the test cassette is the two guidance tabs next to the test area.
You may have learned that you should hold your meter vertically during blood application. Now, with the new guidance tabs, just hold the meter in a way that lets you see the test area when applying blood. Place your finger gently on the guidance tabs so that the drop of blood comes into contact with the centre of the test area. That’s it!
Please note that alternative site testing (e.g. arm) is no longer possible – fingertips only.
No. The new test cassette is designed to obtain a drop of blood from your fingertips. It is no longer possible to use alternative site testing such as forearm or upper arm.
Yes, you can still use the former cassette until it expires.
If the test cassette you removed still has unused tests and is still within the "use by" date, you can reinsert the cassette into the meter. The meter recognises the cassette, the number of available tests and the expiry date.
If a standard test cassette is inserted in to the meter, the meter checks regularly when the cassette was inserted and calculates the use-by period from this. Each test cassette must be used up within 90 days (use-by period). If a standard test cassette is inserted into the meter, the use-by period is calculated from the date when the cassette was first placed in the meter. This date is stored in the cassette.
The meter also checks whether the expiry date of the cassette has been reached. The expiry date is shown on the test cassette box.
If either of the two dates – use-by period or expiry date – is exceeded, the cassette has expired and further tests cannot be performed with this test cassette.
If a test is started and the cassette is going to expire shortly or has already expired, the meter will inform you of this.
A notification relating to the expiry of the test cassette appears 10 days before it expires, subsequent notifications appear 5, 2 and 1 day(s) before expiry.
If the test cassette has expired, a message will ask the user to replace it.
The Accu-Chek Mobile does not require cleaning if the system is handled as instructed. However if it is misused (e.g. the meter is held upside down when applying the blood or control solution, and/or the blood or control solution sample is bigger than 5 µL) the optic parts can become dirty. It is possible to clean the optic parts (refer to the instruction manual).
No, it is not possible to insert the cassette the wrong way.
When a new test cassette is inserted, the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag informs the meter about the specific properties of the chemistry in this test cassette and all coding information is given. The meter turns on, the display check appears and the user is shown the information about the cassette's expiry date. The number of available tests is indicated then the main menu is displayed. The meter is now ready for testing.
Please follow the steps below to change the test cassette in the Accu-Chek Mobile system:
- Switch the meter on and wait for the main menu
- In the main menu, select and open 'Tools'
- In Tools select and open ‘Change cass.’, the meter will now prompt to open the tip cover
- Push the tip cover open as far as it will go
- Turn the meter over so that the back is facing upwards
- Push the slide button located on the right side of the meter upwards so that the cassette compartment cover springs open
- Remove the cassette and insert a new one with the silver side facing up
- Close the cassette compartment cover and press firmly until it clicks in to place
Control tests
No, a control solution, other than the Accu-Chek Mobile control solution cannot be used as it will not reflect to the target control range or target control value.
Additionally the Accu-Chek Mobile control solution applicator is specially designed to apply the control liquid to the test area of the cassette. It allows only a small amount of sample to be applied. This avoids the solution entering the system and soiling it.
Control solution for the Accu-Chek Mobile system can be ordered every three months. Should you need more, please contact the Accu-Chek Customer Careline.
In the process of using the control solution to perform a system check the meter will display the result, the target range and whether the control test is ok or not. In order for this to happen, the displayed result will need to be flagged as a control test. Additionally, the target range and/or the target value can be found on the top of the test cassette packaging.
The test area works with blood or control solution quantities in a range from 0.3 µl to 5.0 µl. The special sink area deals with excessive sample dosing storing up to 5.0 µl.
Special features
Yes, by entering the brightness menu. 3 levels are selectable. The longer the bar on the display, the brighter the display.
Yes, by entering the volume menu. 5 levels are selectable.
Acoustic reminders and beep tones can be switched on or off in the 'Tones' menu. Please be aware that to use the acoustic mode, both acoustic mode and beep tones must be switched on.
OLED technology screens can be hard to read in bright sunlight but shading the display with your hand will make the display legible.
4 different flags can be used to describe certain events connected to the result or particular characteristics of the result.
A flag can only be set if the 'Set Flag' menu is opened while the test result is still displayed. The 'Set Flag' menu gives access to the flags in the following order:
- Control test (This value will not be included in average calculations)
- Other flag (This value will not be included in average calculations)
- Before a meal (apple symbol)
- After a meal (apple core symbol)
Meter care and batteries
Yes, you can change the AAA batteries whilst a cassette is inserted.
The stored values and settings remain saved in the meter while the batteries are changed or if the meter is stored without batteries.
The meter has an in built back-up battery. This provides the power when there are no batteries inserted. The back-up battery lasts about 2 years and cannot be replaced if it is empty. An empty back-up battery has no effect on the functioning of the meter.
If the back-up battery is empty the user has 10 minutes to change the batteries. If more than ten minutes elapses the meter forgets the time and date. When this happens, dashes appear on the display instead of the time and date. In this situation the time and date will have to be set again manually.
High energy batteries last approximately 500 tests or 1 year.
The number of tests may be reduced when the measurement frequency is extremely low (one test per week) or the meter is left unused. Setting the display brightness to level 3 and the beep volume to level 4 or 5 or using the acoustic mode permanently also impacts battery life time negatively. The number of tests may be improved when the test frequency is high.
The Accu-Chek Mobile system is delivered with the time and date set at the factory. Power is supplied by a 3rd internal battery. During storage a protective foil prevents the 2 AAA batteries losing any power and the settings are preserved using the internal battery power.
To activate the AAA batteries, pull out the protective battery foil and they will take over from the internal battery.