Can glucose test strips be faulty?

Test strips also could be expired. A lack of proper storage or using expired strips could put you at risk for getting incorrect results from your glucose meter. And incorrect results can put you at risk for serious health complications — and even death.

Can test strips give false readings?

Using test strips that are too old Researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that old test strips give inaccurate readings, particularly if they are beyond their expiration date. While some meters will reject expired strips, not all of them will.

Are expired diabetic test strips worth anything?

Therefore, test strip performance does change over time and it will no longer perform as intended. It is important for patients not to use test strips beyond the expiration date as LifeScan cannot guarantee the performance of the product and incorrect results could pose a risk to patient health.

What can cause a false blood sugar reading?

10 Common Blood Sugar Testing Mistakes

• Mistake #1: Buying a blood sugar meter that doesn’t fit your daily life.
• Mistake #2: Selecting a device your insurance won’t cover.
• Mistake #3: Setting up the incorrect time and day on your meter.
• Mistake #4: Testing at the wrong time.
• Mistake #5: Not getting into a routine.

Can you get different blood sugar readings from different fingers?

If your blood sugar readings are generally consistent, you can even try alternate site testing, such as using the palm of your hand, if you want to get away from your fingers periodically. But simply using different spots on the same finger can also prevent soreness.

How do you know when blood sugar is high?

If your blood sugar level is too high, you may experience:

1. Increased thirst.
2. Frequent urination.
3. Fatigue.
4. Nausea and vomiting.
5. Shortness of breath.
6. Stomach pain.
7. Fruity breath odor.
8. A very dry mouth.

How do you feel when your blood sugar is too HIgh?

Which finger is best for glucose testing?

Recommended finger: the World Health Organisation recommends the middle or ring fingers are used for blood glucose tests (second and third fingers).

Are there any recalls on glucose test strips?

Recall of Defective Glucose Test Strips. Abbott says the defective strips aren’t absorbing enough blood to provide an accurate reading. The company also says test strips stored for a long time in medicine cabinets or test strips that have been exposed to warm temperatures could give false results.

What to do if your glucose test strips are defective?

Ask a pharmacist to help you. If the only test strips available to you are from affected lots, do not stop testing your blood glucose. Check the amount of time it takes for your blood glucose meter to start the “countdown” after you first apply blood to the test strip. Start timing immediately after blood first makes contact with the test strip.

What happens to blood sugar test strips after expiration?

Even after expiration, a test strip may still display ‘within normal range’ for blood sugar levels, but might also start showing errors in the high and low ranges.

Are there blood test strips that are faulty?

DIABETICS’ lives could be at risk after testing strips that measure blood sugar levels were found to be faulty. People with type 1 diabetes rely on the strips to tell them when to take their insulin.