How Do I Troubleshoot an Accu Check Blood Meter?

Accu-Chek is a brand of blood sugar monitors designed by the manufacturer Roche. There are several varieties of Accu-Chek monitors, including Accu-Chek Aviva, Compact, Advantage and Active. To properly troubleshoot an Accu-Chek blood meter, you should refer to the manufacturer's owner's booklet. The owner's booklet contains an entire section regarding troubleshooting and maintenance. If you are missing the owner's booklet, you can attempt to troubleshoot the machine on your own using control test strips and by referring to the on-screen indications.

Things You'll Need

• Accu-Chek blood meter
• Control test strips
• Control solution
• Owner's booklet
• Battery

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Instructions

• 1

  Run a control test if your machine appears to be functioning normally, but your blood results do not match how you feel. Use Accu-Chek control strips and control solution to test the machine. Insert the strip into the machine and ensure that the number on the screen matches the solution number. Apply the solution to the strip and ensure that the reading matches the levels on the control solution bottle.

• 2

  Check to make sure your control strips and solution are functioning properly, by ensuring that they have not expired. Also check to ensure that the strips and solution were clean, undamaged and properly sealed prior to use.

• 3

  Replace the battery if the screen on the machine does not show anything when the machine is on. If there is no response, the battery may be dead. If a new battery does not fix the problem, ensure that you are using the machine in a room without extreme temperatures. An E-9 error message on the screen also indicates that the battery should be replaced, while E-8 means you should regulate the temperature in the room.

• 4

  Refer to the owner's booklet when deciphering screen messages. An E-1 message is likely due to damaged strips. Repeat with an intact strip. If an E-1 error remains, your blood sugar may be too low for the machine to read.

• 5

  Re-type the key code if you receive an E-2 error message on the machine. If the key code on the strips is not correct, the machine will not work. An E-5 code indicates that the strips are expired.

• 6

  Repeat the test for an E-3, E-4 or E-6 error code, all of which indicate that the test was faulty (for example, if blood was deposited in the wrong area).