Does the site used for obtaining a blood sample for glucose testing affect the results? Besides a finger or arm, what sites are acceptable?
—Diana F. Ney, PA, PhD, CRNP, Pittsburgh
There is a known variation in blood glucose between venous and capillary blood, but heat, cold, pressure, oxygenation, and pain will influence the reading more than the choice of site. Make sure these conditions are controlled and then choose a site. Fingertips and forearms are the standard, but earlobes have also been used with success.
—Sherril Sego, MSN, FNP (112-1)
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