Recent surveys of healthcare professionals have found that people with diabetes may be testing their blood glucose with meters that are not properly (calibrated) coded. * This may be because they forget to code their meter when they purchase a new box of test strips, because they do not know that the meter needs to be coded, or because they code it incorrectly.

* 98% of healthcare professionals agreed that people with diabetes may not always code their meters correctly - potentially impacting the accuracy of results (1).

What is Coding?
Coding, or calibrating, is the process by which a blood glucose meter is matched with the reactivity of the Test Strips. To ensure the accuracy of blood glucose test results using some blood glucose meters, the Meter first needs be coded (or calibrated), usually by inserting a Code Strip or entering a Code Number into the Meter. This "coding" needs to be done every time new test strips are used, such as when a new box of Test Strips is purchased.

Why Does Coding Matter?
The accuracy of blood glucose meters was recently evaluated in a clinical study that compared certain properly and improperly coded meters. This study found that blood glucose test results could be adversely affected by improper coding. The inaccuracies with the meters tested were found to be as high as 43%.

To put this in real life terms, if your blood sugar was 92 mg/dL with a properly coded meter, your test result could be 131 mg/dL if it were coded incorrectly.

Example

Therefore, if you are using a meter that requires coding, it's important that you make sure the meter is coded properly every time you buy a new box of test strips.

Which Meters Need to be Coded?
Most meters on the market today require manual coding of the meter. Some of the more commonly used meters that need coding* are:

Abbott Precision Xtra^TM
ACCU-CHEK Advantage^®
ACCU-CHEK Active^®
ELITE^® / XL
OneTouch^® Ultra^®
OneTouch^® UltraSmart^®
Therasense Freestyle^®
Therasense Freestyle Flash^TM

If you are unsure whether your meter is coded properly, click on the name of your meter (above) and follow the instructions for manually coding the meter.

Meters that DO NOT Require Coding
BREEZE^® Blood Glucose Monitoring System
CONTOUR^™ Blood Glucose Monitoring System

1. Telephone interviews conducted with a random sample of 100 endocrinologists selected from the AMA Directory and 200 diabetes educators selected from the AADE.

Coding Instructions

Abbott Precision Xtra^TM
The Precision Xtra is calibrated using a calibrator included in each box of strips.

* Calibrate the monitor every time you open a new box of strips using the calibrator included in each box.

* Calibrating your monitor will ensure that you get accurate results from each box of test strips.

1. Remove contents from the test strip box.

2. Verify that the 5 digit numbers on the package insert, the calibrator and the test strip foil match.

3. Remove the calibrator bar from its package. Locate the corner with the 3 dots. Peel film back to open.

4. With the lot number facing up, insert the contact bars of the calibrator into the monitor until it stops.

5. The monitor will turn on automatically and will display the lot number.

6. Verify that the lot number displyed matches the lot number on the calibration bar.

7. Discard the calibrator after all glucose test strips from that box have been used.

ACCU-CHEK Advantage^®
To check the code, insert the code key into the meter. Turn the meter on. Make sure the code on the display matches the code on the vial. If both codes match, the meter has been properly coded.

ACCU-CHEK Active^®
The Accuchek Active meter is coded using an orange code key.

* Every time you open a new box of test strips, you need to set the meter to match the code number on the vial of test strips you are using. This ensures that the meter reads the test strips accurately.

1. Remove the orange code key from the test strip box. Compare the three numbers on the code key with the code number printed on the test strip vial. These two numbers must be identical. If they are not identical, you may get inaccurate results. Remove the old code key if one is already inserted.

2. Insert the new code key so that the side with the code number is visible as you look at the display. Gently push it until it snaps into place. Hold the ridged end of the code key between your thumb and finger. Insert the code key with the printed side visible. The code key should slide easily into the meter.

3. The same code number appears on the meter display when you insert a test strip.

ELITE^® / XL

1. Tear open the clear plastic packet found in the new carton of Test strips and remove the Code strip.

2. Insert Code Strip firmly into the test slot until it stops. A beep sounds and a full display appears briefly.

3. Another beep sounds and the Code Number (F-5 is the only strip available in the US) appears in the display.

4. Remove the Code Strip and store it in the original plastic packet.

One Touch^® Ultra^®
To check the code, insert a test strip into the meter or press the "M" button. Once the meter turns on, compare the code number on the meter display (located on the upper left-hand corner of the display screen) with the code found on the test strip vial. If both codes match, the meter has been properly coded. The blood drop symbol will appear when the meter is ready for testing. The OneTouch Ultra has 49 possible codes.

One Touch^® UltraSmart^®
To check the code, insert a test strip into the meter or press the "M" button. Once the meter turns on, compare the code number on the meter display (located on the upper left-hand corner of the display screen) with the code found on the test strip vial. If both codes match, the meter has been properly coded. The blood drop symbol will appear when the meter is ready for testing. The OneTouch Ultra has 49 possible codes.

TheraSense FreeStyle^®
With the meter turned off, insert a new test strip into the meter. After the meter turns on and and the "CodE" screen appears on the display, check the code displayed on the screen against the code outlined in the blue box on the test strip vial currently in use. The code numbers must match in order to ensure accurate results. (Use the "C" button to scroll forward. Use the "M" button to scroll backward.) The blood drop and test strip symbols will appear when ready. The TheraSense FreeStyle has 50 possible codes.

TheraSense FreeStyle Flash^®
With the meter turned off, insert a new test strip into the meter. After the meter turns on and and the "CodE" screen appears on the display, check the code displayed on the screen against the code outlined in the blue box on the test strip vial currently in use. The code numbers must match in order to ensure accurate results. (Use the "C" button to scroll forward. Use the "M" button to scroll backward.) The blood drop and test strip symbols will appear when ready. The TheraSense FreeStyle has 50 possible codes.

Trademarks

ACCU-CHEK Compact^TM
ACCU-CHEK Advantage^®
ACCU-CHEK Active^TM
ACCU-CHEK Advantage, ACCU-CHEK Active, and ACCU-CHEK Compact are trademarks of a member of the Roche group.
OneTouch^® Ultra^® OneTouch and Ultra are registered trademarks of LifeScan, Inc.
Freestyle^TM Freestyle Flash^TM Freestyle and Freestyle Flash are trademarks of Therasense, Inc.
Precision Xtra^TM Precision and Precision Xtra are trademarks of Abbott Laboratories.