Blood Glucose Test Strips

Blood Glucose Test StripsThe blood glucose test strips (diabetes test strips) are a key component of the blood glucose testing.

These small disposable strips of plastic can look insignificant, but they provide a very important role in aiding people with diabetes to control and monitor their diabetes.

In the vast majority of cases, a diabetes testing machine will take one type of test strip only.

There are many blood glucose meters that take blood ketone strips as well, to tests for ketone levels.

Blood Glucose Test StripsHow do Diabetes Test Strips Work?

Regular testing with diabetes test strips is an important part of successful diabetes management. When the blood is placed on to the test strip, it reacts with a chemical called

glucose oxidase producing gluconic acid from glucose in the blood.

At the other end of the test strip, the meter transfers a current to the test strip.

The test strip has electric terminals that allow the meter to measure the current between terminals.

Blood Glucose Test Strips

The current between terminals changes depending on the level of gluconic acid that has been produced.

The blood glucose meter then utilizes an algorithm to act out the blood glucose level based upon the difference in current.

Some blood glucose test strips allow reapplication of more blood to same test strip if needed during the test.

The amount of the blood required by a test strip can vary between the manufacturers. Generally, between 0.4 μl to 1 μl of the blood is required.

Blood Glucose Test Strips

Some test strips, not so commonly utilized these days, do not require a meter.

Blood is placed on the active part of the

strip and then wiped off after a specified number of seconds.

Reagent will change the color and result can be obtained by matching color against a color chart on side of the pot.

Types of Diabetes Test Strips

Currently Three varieties of Diabetes test strips are available

The first and most commonly used type of diabetic testing strip requires the user to drop a small amount of blood into it.

The other kind of diabetic testing strip is more advanced, and uses gentle suction to make contact with the blood sample.

Nipro, Freestyle and Accuchek are the most popular brands in the diabetic testing supplies.

Testing Strips

Important Things to Keep in Mind while Using Blood Glucose Monitors with Test Strips:

A consumable element retaining chemicals that react with glucose in the drop of blood is utilized for each measurement.

For many models, the element is a plastic test strip with a small spot impregnated with glucose oxidase and other components.

Testing Strips

Each strip is utilized once and then discarded.

Instead of strips, some models use drums, discs, or cartridges that retain the consumable material for multiple tests.

You can use famous brands like Accu Chek Active Test Strips.

Coding

Since the test strips may vary from batch to batch, many models require the user to enter manually in a code found on the vial of the test strips or on a chip that comes with the test strip.

By entering coding or chip into the glucose meter, the meter will be calibrated to that batch of the test strips.

However, if the process is carried out incorrectly, the meter reading can be up to 4 mmol/L (72 mg/dL) inaccurate.

The implication of an incorrectly coded meter can be serious for the patients actively managing their diabetes.

Volume of Blood Sample

The size of the drop of the blood needed by different models varies from 0.3 to 1 μl.

Older models required larger blood samples, defined as a “hanging drop” from the fingertip.

Smaller volume requirements decrease the frequency of unproductive pricks.

Alternative Site Examining

Smaller drop volumes have enabled “alternate site testing” — pricking forearms or other less sensitive portions instead of the middle of fingertips.

Pricking the sides of the fingertips is the least uncomfortable method of testing.

Though less uncomfortable, readings obtained from the forearm blood lag behind the fingertip blood in reflecting rapidly changing blood glucose levels in the rest of the human body.

The times it takes to read the test strip may range from 5 to 60 seconds for various models.

Display

The glucose value in mmol/l or mg/dl is displayed on the digital display.

The preferred measurement unit varies by country: mg/dl is preferred in France, U.S., Israel, Japan, and India. Mmol/l is used in Australia, Canada, the UK and China.

Germany is the only country where the medical professionals routinely operate in both the units of the measure.

Display

To convert mg/dl to mmol/l, divided by 18. To convert mmol/l to mg/dl, multiplied by 18.

Many meters can display either unit of the measure.

There have been a couple of published instances in which individual with diabetes has been misled into wrong actions by assuming that a reading in mmol/l was really a low reading in mg/dl, or the converse.

In general, if a value is presented with a decimal point, it is in mmol/l, without a decimal it is most likely mg/dl.

Factors That Effect of ResultsUsing Test Strips

You must throw out outdated or damaged test strips.

Store strips positively in their sealed container; keep them away from moisture heat, and humidity.

Be sure strips are meant for your specific glucose meter.

Keep your glucose meter and the test strips at room temperature.

Wash and dry the hands and the testing site thoroughly before pricking your skin.

Use one of the fast-acting glucose tests strips and receive your blood glucose results in as little as three seconds.