According to the consensus of Chinese experts on the standard of clinical operation and quality management of portable blood glucose meter, 75% ethanol should be used to disinfect the blood sampling site, and other disinfectants that may interfere with the detection, such as iodophor, should not be used. The blood should be collected after ethanol volatilization and drying. The American Diabetes Association recommends washing hands with soap and running water as skin preparation before finger blood sugar measurement.

 

Obviously, the recommended methods of skin preparation before finger blood glucose measurement are different between Chinese and American medical managers. It may be because the two countries have different ideas and external conditions. The United States may start from the convenience of patients' self-test, and have high confidence in patients' conscious hand washing, and can consciously wash hands for skin preparation before finger blood glucose measurement. In China, it may be considered that there are many sources of infection in the hospital, 75% ethanol disinfection can reduce the risk of infection, and also shorten the time of skin preparation.

 

For the influence of 75% ethanol on the blood glucose value of the peripheral blood, domestic studies have shown that the test results of the two skin preparation methods of 75% ethanol disinfection and flowing water cleaning and drying can be used. However, it is also believed that if the blood glucose is not sterilized with ethanol, the test results will be affected. It is recommended in the technical guidelines for injection of Chinese diabetes drugs (2016 Edition) in the inspection and disinfection of injection site: when injecting, keep the injection site clean; when the injection site is not clean or the patient is in an environment (such as hospital or sanatorium) where infection is easy to spread, the injection site should be disinfected before injection.

 

It can be seen that skin disinfection is not necessary for blood glucose detection or injection. Considering the long-term clinical practice and public cognition in China, it is recommended to use 75% ethanol in medical institutions to detect peripheral blood glucose. While diabetic patients at home can also choose to wash their hands with soap and running water, keep their fingers clean and dry, and then take blood.