recently, the blood glucose level from a fingerstick can be up to 70 mg/dL higher than blood drawn from a vein (venous sample) used for a lab test.7 Therefore it is best to fast for four to eight hours before doing comparison tests. Factors such as the amount of red blood cells in the blood (a high or low hematocrit) or the loss of body fluid (severe dehydration) may also give a meter result different from a laboratory result.
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