Step Ten is filling the cuvette.

Step Ten Video Narration:

After wiping away the first 2-3 split pea-sized blood drops, rock the finger to obtain your sample. The drop should sit atop the skin.

Place the tip of the cuvette into the blood sample so the tip of the cuvette touches the skin. The cuvette will fill itself automatically. Never "top off" the cuvette by dipping it back into the blood sample. This is why it's important to get a large enough drop of blood the first time.

The yellow substance inside the cuvette reacts with the blood. After filling up the cuvette, hand your client a lint-free wipe and ask them to apply light pressure to the puncture site. Never give your client an alcohol pad to stop the bleeding.

If the cuvette does not fill completely on the first try, or if air bubbles are visible, discard the cuvette. Wipe the puncture site and allow a new, larger bead of blood to form before collecting it into a new cuvette. If a bead of blood does not form, you'll need to start the test over using another finger.

Carefully wipe off the excess blood from the sides of the cuvette using a gauze pad or lint-free wipe. Do not touch the open-ended tip, as this can draw the blood outward. If blood is drawn out, you will need another sample.