Hygiene and the avoidance of cross-contamination are the fundamentals in achieving accurate test results. Here are some obvious examples for you to consider:
- You may have just handled supplements; *exogenous ketones or *MCT oil for example.
- The blood about to undergo testing may have been exposed to the air for too long.
All blood meters present small degrees of variance in the testing process; however Ketodoc is proven to minimize this. To elaborate, if your own repeated tests vary from, for example, an initial reading of 1.0 to the next at 1.2, it appears there's a variance of 20%; but in reality it may actually be far less. A reading of 1.0 can actually fall between 0.9 to 1.1.
Please refer to the Accuracy and Precision sections within the leaflet accompanying your test strips. Tolerance tests were based on 120 subjects using 3 sets of test strips, equaling laboratory-controlled standards. Reliable findings are, therefore, accumulative.
To summarize:
- Wash your hands thoroughly before beginning the test.
- Use a sterilized wipe to clean the area from which the blood will be drawn.
- Even if the wipe is alcohol-free, use a clean tissue on the same area to remove any product residue.
- Discard the first blood sample to further minimize contamination before proceeding.
- If repeat tests are intended, prepare the area to work speedily. Congealed blood will affect the test result.
Terminology:
*What are exogenous ketones?
Exogenous ketones are synthetically sourced; they are not produced in the body. The body produces endogenous ketones during fasting, or while following a ketogenic diet. Exogenous ketones provide the body with another fuel to employ. This is optional on a ketogenic diet.
*What is MCT oil?
MCT is an abbreviation for medium-chain triglycerides, which is essentially a laboratory produced saturated fatty acid, extracted from coconut and palm oils. MCT is marketed as a fat-burning, metabolism-revving superfood. This, again, is optional and if you would like to know more we have provided a link below.
Further reading:
Shape (2019)
What Is MCT Oil and Is It the Next Superfood? [Online]
Available at: https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/what-mct-oil-superfood-ingredient
(Accessed 18 July 2019)