The Accutrend GC and GCTL devices are designed to measure various blood parameters. fitnessASSIST sells the Accutrend range of kits, three varieties, and all relavant consumables for on-going use. This article is designed to offer support and further guidance to the nature of the products, their use and application. The three kits supplied by fitnessASSIST are:

1. Roche Accutrend Lactate Plus GCTL Kit - ROC013/LAC

This kit is primarily ffor use by Sports Coaches wishing to design fitness training programmes based on the athletes production of blood lactate during intense exercise. fitnessASSIST however offers th eopportunity to adjust the FREE consumables to include more lacatate strips than the other consumables.

2. Roche Acutrend Plus GCTL - ROC013/GCT

In fact this kit is the same as the option refered to above, but is supplied with the standard starter kit of FREE consumables, 25 Cholesterol test strips, 50 Glucose test strips, 25 Triglyceride test strips and 25 Lactate test strips.

3. Roche Accutrend Plus GC Kit
The GC kit  is offered as the same Accutrend Plus format, but with the ability to measure the parameters of Cholesterol and Glucose, the kit therefore only includes the test strips for these parameters. The device itself is set-up at manufacture with ONLY these two parameters available for selection and therefore mesurement.

User's of the Accutrend mesuring device are advised to read the manual suplied with the device carefully before using the instrument. This will familiarise the user with the required preparations and the measurement procedure before performing the first measurement. User's are also advised to read the package inserts of the test strips to be used for the planned test.

Test Principle

The test principle is the sample for each of the blood parameters cholesterol, glucose, triglyceride and lactate. Each test strip however has a different formulation to match the required enzymatic reaction with the relevant blood parameter to be measured. By means of a code strip, the instrument reads the lot-specific charteristics of the test strips currently in use. This information is stored and therefore needs only to be read once per test strip container. An unused test strip is taken from the containe and inserted into the instrument. While inserted, the application area of the test strip is illuminated by an LED (light-emitting diode) from below. Before the actual measurement is performed, the reflection behaviour of the test strip is determined by  means of the light which is reflected from the application area of the test strip.

The blood sample is then applied to the application area and the measurement chamber flap is closed. The constituent to be etermined in the applied sample undergoes an enzymatic reaction with formation of dye. The amount of dye formed increases with the concentration of the substance to be determined.

After a certain period of time, depending on the test parameter to be measured and the speed of the specific enzymatic reaction, the colour intensity is measured by illuminating the application area again from below using the LED. The intensity of the reflected light is measured with a detector (relectance photometry). The measured value is determined from the signal strength of the reflected light, with the previously measured blank value and the read lot-specific information (code-strip) also being consdered. Finally, the result is displayed and simultaneously stored in the memory.

The test principle is the sample for each of the blood parameters cholesterol, glucose, triglyceride and lactate. Each test strip however has a different formulation to match the required enzymatic reaction with the relevant blood parameter to be measured. By means of a code strip, the instrument reads the lot-specific charteristics of the test strips currently in use. This information is stored and therefore needs only to be read once per test strip container. An unused test strip is taken from the containe and inserted into the instrument. While inserted, the application area of the test strip is illuminated by an LED (light-emitting diode) from below. Before the actual measurement is performed, the reflection behaviour of the test strip is determined by  means of the light which is reflected from the application area of the test strip.

The blood sample is then applied to the application area and the measurement chamber flap is closed. The constituent to be etermined in the applied sample undergoes an enzymatic reaction with formation of dye. The amount of dye formed increases with the concentration of the substance to be determined.

After a certain period of time, depending on the test parameter to be measured and the speed of the specific enzymatic reaction, the colour intensity is measured by illuminating the application area again from below using the LED. The intensity of the reflected light is measured with a detector (relectance photometry). The measured value is determined from the signal strength of the reflected light, with the previously measured blank value and the read lot-specific information (code-strip) also being consdered. Finally, the result is displayed and simultaneously stored in the memory.

Contents supplied with the device: 

• Accutrend Plus instrument
• User's manual
• Four batteries (1.5V AAA)

Start Kit and consumable contents:

• Carry case
• 200 pc Safe-T-Pro once only use lancets
• A single container for each test strip measured by the specific Accutrend Pus instrument
• GC instrument - 25 pc Cholesterol test strips and 50pc Glucose test strips
• GCTL instrument - 25 pc of Cholesterol, Triglyceride & Lactate test strips and 50pc Glucose test strips
• Relevant control solutions

Operating Conditions

The Accutrend Plus instrument wil perform properly if used within the following terms.

Acceptable temperature range for operation is test-dependent: cholesterol & triglycerides 18-30^oC, glucose 18-32^oC and lactate 15-35^oC.
The relative humidity for all testing is governed by being not greater than 85%

The measurement can be performed with the instrument on a level flat surface or held in the hand in a simialar orientation.
Strong electromagnetic fields may impair the function of the instrument. It is advised not to use the instrument close to sources of strong electromagnetic radiation.

Safety Information

It is imperative that the user takes action to guard against potential infection risks. Any object coming into contact with uman blood is a potential source of infection. It is therefore advised:
to use gloves, when making multiple measurements in a session apply blood to the application area outside of the instrument, always use a container with a lid for disposing of waste material from the testing procedure, use a professional lancing device such as the  Accu-Chek-Safe-T-Pro to prevent cross contamination of blood.
 

Product is covered under the following patents:
US5, 463,467;US 5,424,035; US5,334,508; US5,206,147; US5,240,860; US5,382,523; US5,521,060; US5;268,269; US6,506,575; US5,281,395

Marking: CE 0123 

ACCU-CHEK, ACCUTRENDm COBAS, SAFE-T-PRO and SOFTCLIX are trademarks of Roche.

The Accutrend Plus device was first launched in 2007 by Roche Diagnostics.

The instrument complies with DIN EN61010-1 (Safety requirements for electrical equipment for measurement, control and laboratory use; General requirements). Each device is tested and is in a perfect safety condition at the end of the manufacturing and packaging process.

Installation, use and maintenance of the Acccutrend Plus instrument lies in the full responsibility of the user.