How to Test Your A1C at Home

In the past, you could only get a hemoglobin A1C test at your doctor's office. Now you can purchase it at your pharmacy and take the test at home. You can take a blood sample from your finger just like you do for you blood glucose meter and it's not much more complicated than your meter either.

The A1C is a useful tool, because it gives you a number that correlates with your blood glucose control over the last 2-3 months (see Reference Chart below). The American Diabetic Association recommends A1C goal for people with diabetes to be 7 or less.

Things You'll Need

• A1CNow SelfCheck
• Lancets

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Instructions

• 1

  Using a lancet (does not come with A1CNow), prick your finger to produce a blood sample. You need a large drop of blood (5μL) about the same size as the older generation blood glucose meters used. Touch the tip of the blood collector to the drop of blood to draw up a sample.

• 2

  Push the blood collector into the sampler body. Push firmly until fully inserted.

• 3

  Shake the sampler body 6-8 times.

• 4

  Remove one test cartridge from its packaging. Insert the test cartridge into the Monitor until it clicks into position.

• 5

  Wait for 'SMPL' to display on the monitor. Set the monitor on a level surface. When 'SMPL' comes up, remove the base of the sampler exposing the plunger.

• 6

  Insert the plunger into the correct hole in the test cartridge. Push the sampler down to move the sample into the test cartridge. Then remove the sampler.

• 7

  Do not touch the Monitor for 5 minutes. After it counts down from 5 minutes, it will cycle through the following messages: A1C result, QCOK, and # of tests left. This will remain on the meter for 60 minutes.

• 8

  Discard the cartridge but save the meter. The meter is reusable until all the test cartridges are used and the meter indicates there are zero tests left.