Testing Specimen for

Sugar & Nursing

Responsibilities
Presented By:
Raymund Christopher R. dela Pena, BSN, RN

Urine Testing for Sugar

1. Benedicts Test:
Collect urine specimen before meals
Put 5 ml of Benedicts Solution into the test
tube
Heat the Benedicts Solution; there should be
no color change. (If the color of the solution is
altered upon heating, it is considered
contaminated.)
Add 8-10 drops of urine
Heat the urine. Do not boil.

Interpretation of Results:
Blue : (-) Negative
Green : +
Yellow: ++
Orange: +++
Red: ++++

2. Clinitest/Clinistix Test
Collect urine specimen before meals
Put one clinitest tablet in a test tube
Add 5 drops of urine
Add 10 drops of water
Wait for the reaction to occur
Compare with a standard color chart
Ignore color changes that develop after 10
seconds

Random Blood Sugar

Capillary Blood Specimen
Often taken to measure blood glucose when
frequent tests are required or when a
venipuncture cannot be performed.
This technique is less painful than a
venipuncture and easily performed. Hence,
clients can perform this technique on
themselves.

Monitoring the Blood Glucose Level

Purposes:
To determine or monitor blood
glucose levels of clients at risk for
hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia.
To promote blood glucose regulation
by the client.
To evaluate the effectiveness of
insulin administration.

Assessment
Assess the following:
Patients history for indications
necessitating the monitoring of
blood glucose levels.
Patients knowledge about
monitoring blood glucose.

Equipment:
Blood glucose meter
Sterile lancet
Testing strips
Disposable gloves
Alcohol swab or soap & water

Implementation:
1. Check physicians order for monitoring
schedule.
-This confirms times for checking blood
glucose.
2. Gather equipment.
3. Explain procedure to patient.
4. Perform hand hygiene.
5. Prepare lancet.
6. Remove test strip from the vial. Recap
container immediately. Turn monitor on.
7. For adult, massage side of finger toward
puncture site.
-Massage encourages blood flow to the

8. Have pt wash hands w/ soap & warm water or cleanse area

w/ alcohol. Dry thoroughly.

-Cleanses the puncture site. Warm water also helps
cause vasodilation.
9. Hold lancet perpendicular to skin & prick site w/ lancet.
-Facilitates proper penetration.
10. Wipe away 1st drop of blood w/ cotton ball.
-1st drop of blood maybe contaminated by serum or
cleansing product, producing an inaccurate reading
11. Lightly squeeze or milk the puncture site until a hanging
blood has formed.
-An appropriate-sized droplet facilitates accurate test results.
12. Gently touch drop of blo0d to pad on test strip w/out
smearing it.
13. Apply pressure to puncture site w/ a cotton ball. Do not use
alcohol wipe.

-Pressure causes hemostasis. Alcohol stings & may

produce prolong bleeding.

14. Read blood glucose results and document

properly. Inform pt of the result.

15. Turn meter off, dispose of properly & place
lancet in sharps container.
16. Remove gloves & perform hand hygiene.
17. Record blood glucose result on chart or
medication record. Report abnormal results
to the physician.