Preparing your meter
Have these things ready when you check your blood sugar level:
NOTE:
CAUTION: If you cannot test due to a problem with your testing supplies, contact your health care professional or OneTouch® Customer Service at 1 800 227-8862. Failure to test could delay treatment decisions and lead to a serious medical condition.
CAUTION: The test strip vial contains drying agents that are harmful if inhaled or swallowed and may cause skin or eye irritation.
Coding your OneTouch® UltraMini® Meter
Step 1
Check the code on the test strip vial before inserting the test strip
Code numbers are used to calibrate your meter with the test strips you are using to obtain accurate test results. You must code the meter before using it for the first time and then every time you change to another vial of test strips.
Step 2
Insert a test strip to turn on the meter
Start with the meter off. If you have turned the meter on to change settings or review past results, turn it off. Remove a test strip from its vial. With clean, dry hands, you may touch the test strip anywhere on its surface. Do not bend, cut, or modify the test strip in any way. Use each test strip immediately after removing it from the vial.
Hold the meter as shown and insert the test strip into the test port. Make sure the 3 contact bars are facing you. Push the test strip in as far as it will go. Do not bend the test strip.
CAUTION: OneTouch® Ultra® Test Strips are for single use only. Never reuse a test strip that has had either blood or control solution applied to it.
After the start-up test screen appears, the meter will display the code from your last test. If a constant [C] and a flashing “––” appear instead of a code number, such as when you are first using the meter, follow the instructions on the next page to change to a numerical code.
Step 3
Match the code on the meter with the code on the test strip vial
If the code on the meter does not match the code on the test strip vial, press â–² or â–¼ to match the code number on the test strip vial. The new code number will flash on the display for 3 seconds, and then stay constant for 3 seconds.
The display will advance to the screen with the flashing blood drop icon 
.
If the codes already match, wait 3 seconds. The display will advance to the screen with the flashing blood drop icon .
The meter is now ready to perform a blood sugar test.
NOTE:
appears before you are sure the codes match, remove the test strip, wait until the meter turns off, then restart from step 1..CAUTION: Matching the code on the meter and the code on the test strip vial is essential to obtain accurate results. Each time you test, check to make sure the code numbers match.
Choosing the right sampling site at the right time 
The OneTouch® UltraMini® Meter allows you to sample blood from your fingertip, forearm, or palm. Forearm and palm sampling is also referred to as “alternate site testing” (AST). At times, results obtained at the forearm or palm may be different from a fingertip measurement. Talk to your health care professional before you begin using your forearm or palm for sampling.
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If you are testing: |
Use blood sample from your: |
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Routinely before meals |
Fingertip, forearm, or palm |
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Prior to or more than 2 hours after:
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Fingertip, forearm, or palm |
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When your blood sugar is changing rapidly, such as:
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Fingertip |
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When you are concerned about the possibility of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) |
Fingertip |
CAUTION:
Do not test on your forearm or palm when:
Remember: Consult with your health care professional before using your forearm or palm for testing.
Choose a different puncture site each time you test. Repeated punctures in the same spot may cause soreness and calluses.
If bruising occurs at an alternate site or you have difficulty getting a sample, consider sampling from a fingertip instead. You may want to review the choice of sites with your health care professional.
Preparing your sample site 
Before you test your blood sugar, wash your hands and forearm (if applicable) thoroughly with warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry.
Lancing and sampling from your fingertip
Step 1
Remove the blue (or black) cap by snapping it off
Step 2
Insert a sterile lancet into the OneTouch® Lancing Device
Insert the lancet into the holder and push in firmly. Twist the protective disk until it separates from the lancet and save the disk for later use. Do not twist the lancet.
Step 3
Replace the blue (or black) cap by snapping it back on
Step 4
Adjust the depth setting
The OneTouch® Lancing Device has nine puncture depth settings, numbered 1 through 9. The smaller numbers are for a shallower puncture, and the larger numbers are for a deeper puncture.
Shallower punctures work for children and most adults. Deeper punctures work well for people with thick or callused skin. Twist the blue (or black) cap until the correct setting appears.
NOTE: A shallower puncture may be less painful. Try a shallower setting first and increase the depth until you find the one deep enough to get a blood sample.
Step 5
Prepare the OneTouch® Lancing Device
Slide the control button back until it clicks. If it does not click, the control button may have already been locked back and ready to spring for site puncture when you inserted the lancet.
Step 6
Puncture your finger
Hold the OneTouch® Lancing Device firmly against the side of your finger. Press the release button. Remove the OneTouch® Lancing Device from your finger.
Step 7
Get a round drop of blood
Gently squeeze or massage your fingertip until a round drop of blood forms on your fingertip.
If the blood smears or runs, do not use that sample. Dry the area and gently squeeze another drop of blood or puncture a new site.
Lancing and sampling from an alternate site
Sampling from your palm or forearm allows you to use your fingertips less often. You may find that obtaining a blood sample from an alternate site is less painful than using a fingertip. Getting a blood sample from your forearm or palm is different from getting a sample from your fingertips.
Forearm sampling
Choose a fleshy area of the forearm away from bone, visible veins, and hair. Sometimes there is less blood flow to the forearm than to the fingertips. To help you get a large enough drop of blood, you may gently massage or apply warmth to the site to increase blood flow.
Palm sampling
Choose a fleshy area on the palm below your thumb or pinky finger. Select a spot with no visible veins and away from deep lines, which may cause your blood sample to smear.
The OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap is used for forearm and palm sampling only. Replace the blue (or black) cap with the OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap. Blue (or black) caps are for fingertip sampling only.
Step 1
Remove the blue (or black) cap by snapping it off
Step 2
Insert a sterile lancet into the OneTouch® Lancing Device
Insert the lancet into the holder and push in firmly. Twist the protective disk until it separates from the lancet and save the disk for later use. Do not twist the lancet.
Step 3
Install the OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap on the OneTouch® Lancing Device by snapping it on
Step 4
Adjust the depth setting
You may have to adjust the OneTouch® Lancing Device to a deeper setting to get a large enough drop of blood from your forearm or palm. Twist the OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap toward the larger numbers to increase the depth.
Step 5
Prepare the OneTouch® Lancing Device
Slide the control button back until it clicks. If it does not click, the control button may have already been locked back and ready to spring for site puncture when you inserted the lancet.
Step 6
Puncture your forearm or palm
Firmly press and hold the lancing device against your forearm or palm for a few seconds. Wait until the skin surface under the OneTouch® AST™ Clear Cap changes color (as blood collects beneath the skin). This tells you there is enough blood flow for a good sample. Then press the release button while continuing to apply pressure. Keep holding the lancing device against your skin until a round drop of blood forms under the cap.
Step 7
Remove the OneTouch® Lancing Device
Carefully lift the lancing device from your skin. Do not smear the blood sample.
NOTE:
Applying blood and reading results
Once you have a blood sample and your meter shows the screen with the flashing blood drop icon , you are ready to obtain a blood sugar result. If your meter does not show the screen with the flashing blood drop icon , remove the unused test strip and restart the test process.
Applying Blood
OneTouch Ultra Test Strips with FastDraw Design make checking your blood sugar fast and easy.
Step 1
Prepare to apply the sample
Keeping your finger extended and steady, move the meter and test strip toward the blood drop.
Do not apply blood on the top of the test strip.
Do not hold the meter and test strip underneath the blood drop. This may cause blood to run into the test port and damage the meter.
When applying a drop of blood from your forearm or palm, keep your palm or forearm steady and bring the top edge of the test strip to the drop of blood with your other hand.
Step 2
Apply the sample
Line up the test strip with the blood drop so that the narrow channel on the edge of the test strip is almost touching the edge of the blood drop.
Gently touch the channel to the edge of the blood drop.
Be careful not to push the test strip against your fingertip or the test strip may not fill completely.
NOTE:
• Do not smear or scrape the drop of blood with the test strip.
• Do not move the test strip in the meter during a test.
CAUTION: You may get an error message (Er 5 message on the OneTouch® UltraMini®) or an inaccurate result if the blood sample does not fill the confirmation window completely. Discard the test strip and restart the test process.
Step 3
Wait for the confirmation window to fill completely
The blood drop will be drawn into the narrow channel and the confirmation window should fill completely. When the confirmation window is full, this means you have applied enough blood.
Step 4
Read your result on the meter
Your blood sugar level appears on the display, along with the unit of measure, and the date and time of the test. Blood sugar results are automatically stored in the meter’s memory.
CAUTION: If you test at the low end of the operating range (43°F-111°F) and your sugar is high (over 180 mg/dL), the reading on your meter may be lower than your actual glucose. In this situation, repeat the test in a warmer environment with a new test strip as soon as possible.
WARNING: If mg/dL does not appear with the test result, call OneTouch® Customer Service . Use of the wrong unit of measure may cause you to misinterpret your blood glucose level and may lead to incorrect treatment.
Error messages
If you get an Er message on your screen rather than a result, visit understanding error and other messages .
Unexpected test results
Refer to these cautions whenever your results are lower than, higher than, or not what you expect.
CAUTION: Dehydration and low glucose results
Severe dehydration resulting from excessive water loss may cause false low results. If you think you are suffering from severe dehydration, contact your health care professional immediately.
CAUTION: Low glucose results
If your test result is lower than 70 mg/dL or is shown as LO, it may mean hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This may require immediate treatment according to your health care professional’s recommendations. Although this result could be due to a test error, it is safer to treat first, then do another test.
CAUTION: High glucose results
If your test result is higher than 180 mg/dL, it may mean hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). If you are uncertain about this test result, consider retesting. Your health care professional can work with you to decide what actions, if any, you should take if your results are higher than 180 mg/dL.
If your meter displays HI, you may have a very high blood sugar level (severe hyperglycemia) exceeding 600 mg/dL. Recheck your glucose level. If the result is HI again, this may indicate a severe problem with your blood glucose control, and it is important that you obtain and follow instructions from your health care professional without delay.
CAUTION: Repeated unexpected glucose results
If you continue to get unexpected results, check your system with control solution. See control solution testing .
If you are experiencing symptoms that are not consistent with your blood sugar results and you have followed all instructions in this FAQ, call your health care professional. Never ignore symptoms or make significant changes to your diabetes control program without speaking to your health care professional.
CAUTION: Unusual red blood cell count
A hematocrit (percentage of your blood that is red blood cells) that is either very high (above 55%) or very low (below 30%) can cause false results.
After getting a result
Once you have read your result, you may:
Removing the used lancet
Remove the lancing device cap by snapping it off. Cover the exposed lancet tip before removing the lancet. Place the lancet protective disk on a hard surface. Push the lancet tip into the disk. Remove the lancet and place it in a container for sharp objects. Replace the cap.
Disposing of the used lancet and test strip
It is important to discard the used lancet carefully after use to avoid unintended lancet stick injuries. Used test strips and lancets may be considered biohazardous waste in your area. Be sure to follow your local regulations for proper disposal.
