Worrying manipulation of BS levels

[kiskutya]

Not sure if I've found something interesting or if my findings are well known.

I have always simply washed my hands and dried them before pricking a finger (I always use the same finger) but last week I was given some STERETS pre-injection swabs (Isopropyl alcohol 70% v/v). My average BS 7 day is 6.6 / 14 day 6.3 / 30 day 6.6 HOWEVER when I used a swab to wipe my finger pre pricking my BS reading was 4.6 which seemed low so I washed my hands and immediately retested at 6.6, 5 mins later retested at 6.7, 5 mins later retested at 6.6 and again retested 5 mins later at 6.7. Later the same day I again swabbed pre testing and reading was 5.6, washed my hands retested immediately 6.1.

If anyone swabs pre pricking can they post their readings please.

If it's a well documented effect that isopropyl alcohol gives false low readings please post that too.

 

[phoenix]

It is well known that alcohol swabs can effect readings. I was told not to use them when I was diagnosed over 10 years ago but in settings settings it's felt to be necessary.
If you do use it, then it is important that the alcohol is thoroughly dry before testing and that takes time.. Here's a group of nurses talking about it http://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/fingerstick-glucose-testing-220967.html
And a paper originally from 1993 . http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pdi.1960110610/abstract

Moreover, when a group of researchers compared the effect of swabbing with alcohol and tap water on fruit juice stained fingers, the alcohol didn't work as well as the water because it didn't clean the residue off efficiently . http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/09/us-fruit-salad-idUSTRE7185LC20110209

Hand sanitizer has been tested and that doesn't seem to effect results as much as long as the skin is relatively clean However, like the alcohol they may not be that efficient at removing a sticky residue.http://dst.sagepub.com/content/5/6/1444.abstract

 

[kiskutya]

Thankyou, very interesting reading.

 

[ElyDave]

There's a great tendency offshore to put hand sanitisers outside the galleys, I make a point of NOT using them for exactly the reason you suggest.