Raghy:
I read all the posts from the nurses on line site. Here is my summary:
Majority of the nurses and nurse technicians favor the use of alcohol wipes (not alcohol based cleaning solutions) and some use soap and water. When they use alcohol wipes they make sure to let the alcohol film dry naturally and then prick. Some of them wipe off the first drop as an extra precaution in case a film of alcohol stayed on the finger tip. The so-called false low BS is due to dilution of the blood sample with residual alcohol staying on the finger tip after wiping with the swab and not waiting to dry. If you use alcohol wipes, wait a few seconds to make sure the alcohol film evaporates completely before pricking and measuring.
Some of the employers permitted the alcohol wipe usage. But I don't know if they were in Australia.
Here is a quote about recommending alcohol wipe (from the nursesonline site)
"
I read all the posts from the nurses on line site. Here is my summary:
Majority of the nurses and nurse technicians favor the use of alcohol wipes (not alcohol based cleaning solutions) and some use soap and water. When they use alcohol wipes they make sure to let the alcohol film dry naturally and then prick. Some of them wipe off the first drop as an extra precaution in case a film of alcohol stayed on the finger tip. The so-called false low BS is due to dilution of the blood sample with residual alcohol staying on the finger tip after wiping with the swab and not waiting to dry. If you use alcohol wipes, wait a few seconds to make sure the alcohol film evaporates completely before pricking and measuring.
Some of the employers permitted the alcohol wipe usage. But I don't know if they were in Australia.
Here is a quote about recommending alcohol wipe (from the nursesonline site)
Apr 28, '07 by PickyRN
Quote from FutureNurse35
Here is another quote from the nursesonline siteQuote from FutureNurse35
The medical surgical textbook that I am using says, alcohol should not be used when taking BG to wipe finger. Soap and water should be used instead.
This was probably written by somebody who hasn't worked in a clinical setting for years, if ever. It is impractical to have each patient wash their hands with soap and water before you check their blood sugar. Most of my patients aren't ambulatory.
This was probably written by somebody who hasn't worked in a clinical setting for years, if ever. It is impractical to have each patient wash their hands with soap and water before you check their blood sugar. Most of my patients aren't ambulatory.
"
I would much prefer training the techs to use the alcohol wipe and waiting for it to dry vs expecting them to wash bed bound pts hands with every blood sugar. How about alcohol wipe the finger upon entering room and then setting up machine? This would give it enough time to let it dry, at least with the machines we use at our facility."
Here is another quote: "in my medical assistant program they taught us to use alcohol but let it dry before you stick the finger and to wipe away the first drop of blood."
Conclusion: If you use the alcohol wipe correctly (wipe and wait for the alcohol to dry) then you will not get any false reading either high or low. Incorrect usage will give mainly a false low reading because of dilution of the sample.
Pl do not entertain the thought that the alcohol wipe contains sugar. Absolutely not!
Here is another quote: "in my medical assistant program they taught us to use alcohol but let it dry before you stick the finger and to wipe away the first drop of blood."
Conclusion: If you use the alcohol wipe correctly (wipe and wait for the alcohol to dry) then you will not get any false reading either high or low. Incorrect usage will give mainly a false low reading because of dilution of the sample.
Pl do not entertain the thought that the alcohol wipe contains sugar. Absolutely not!