fitnessASSIST

Roche Accutrend devices are designed for the measurement of various blood parameters including cholesterol, glucose, triglyceride and lactate. 

fitnessASSIST offer you the choice of three types of familiarise kits in addition to all relevant consumables for on-going use. This article is designed to provide users with additional support and guidance to the nature of the products, their use and application.

We recommend that all users of the Accutrend measuring device read the manual supplied 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. Users are also advised to read the inserts supplied with the test strips to be used during the planned test.

The three kits supplied by fitnessASSIST are as follows:

Roche Accutrend Lactate Plus GCTL Kit

This kit is primarily for use by sports coaches who wish to design fitness training programmes based on the athletes production of blood lactate during intense exercise. fitnessASSIST gives you the opportunity to adjust the free consumables to include more lactate strips than the other consumables.

Roche Acutrend Plus GCTL Kit

This kit is identical to the above listing but is supplied with the standard starter kit of free consumables which includes 25 Cholesterol test strips, 50 Glucose test strips, 25 Triglyceride test strips and 25 Lactate test strips.

Roche Accutrend Plus GC Kit

The GC kit is ideal for users who wish only to measure the parameters of Cholesterol and Glucose. Please note that the device itself is set-up at manufacture with these two parameters available for selection and measurement only.

Test Principle

The test principle is the same for each of the blood parameters that can be measured. However, each test strip has a different formulation to match the required enzymatic reaction with the relevant blood parameter to be measured.

The instrument reads the lot-specific characteristics of the test strips currently in use by means of a code-strip. This information is stored and therefore needs only to be read once per test strip container.

An unused test strip is taken from the container and inserted into the instrument. While inserted, the application area of the test strip is illuminated by an LED 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 determined 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. 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 also being considered. Finally, the result is displayed and simultaneously stored in the memory.

Performing Measurements

To perform a test using the Accutrend Plus instrument you will require the following:

• Your Accutrend Plus instrument
• Test strip with the related code strip
• Lancing device i.e Accu-Chek Safe-T-Pro
• Wipes, Sharps Bin etc.

The brief overview of the steps to be carried out are:

1) Code the instrument (once per test strip container)
2) Insert the test strip
3) Apply blood
4) Start measurement by closing the measurement chamber flap
5) Display of measurement results

Battery Requirements and Power Supply

The device requires four batteries (1.5V AAA) to be installed to operate. With a new set of batteries you will normally be able to perform at least 1,000 measurements. When the battery warning is displayed for the first time, approximately 50 measurements can still be performed.

The batteries used should only be AAA alkaline manganese batteries. Replace batteries within 2 minutes to keep the set date and time, otherwise they will need to be reset. You should note that measurement results, including the related measurement date and time, and other instrument settings, remain stored even when no batteries are inserted.

To save power, the instrument turns itself off after 2 minutes unless a button is pressed or a new test strip is inserted. When the instrument turns itself off, all test results obtained so far remain in the memory.

Instrument Customisable Settings

The following settings are available for customisation by the user of the Accutrend Plus:

• Date
• Time
• Date format: DD.MM.YY or MM-DD-YY
• Time format: 24hr or 12 h with AM/PM
• Sound: On/Off
• Lactate result: Blood (BL) or Plasma (PL).

Accutrend Consumables

The following consumables are available for Accutrend Plus Kits:

Accutrend Glucose 50 - 50 test strips for determining blood glucose
Accutrend Control G - control solution set to be used with Accutrend Glucose test strip

Accutrend Cholesterol 25 - 25 test strips for determining cholesterol in the blood
Accutrend Control CH1 - control solution to be used with Accutrend Cholsterol test strips

Accutrend Triglycerides 25 - 25 test strips for determining triglycerides in the blood
Accutrend Control TG1 - control solution to be used with Accutrend Triglycerides test strips

BM-Lactate 25 - 25 test strips for determining lactate in the blood
BM-Control Lactate - control solution to be used with BM-Lactate test strips

Operating Conditions

For optimum performance the Accutrend Plus device should be used in the following conditions:

• Acceptable temperature for cholesterol & triglycerides 18-30°C
• Acceptable temperature for glucose 18-32°C
• Acceptable temperature for lactate 15-35°C
• 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 similar 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.

Quality Control

The Accutrend Plus instrument comprises numerous integrated or available control functions to ensure good quality control:

• An automatic check of the electronic components and functions when the instrument is switched on.
• An automatic check of the ambient temperature before and during the measurement
• An automatic check of the test strips to make sure that the code information necessary for measurement is held within the instruments registration.
• A check of the optical system and the overall function by means of the control solutions. (See Accessories & Consumables Control Solutions)

Disposal of instrument

Used instruments should be disposed of according to local regulations to avoid being a source risk of infection. The instrument however does not fall under the scope of the EC Directive 2002/96/EC directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment.
 
Safety Information

It is imperative that the user takes action to guard against potential infection risks. Any object coming into contact with human 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.

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.

View the full range of Roche Accutrend Plus kits