Choosing the Correct Test Strip for Blood Glucose Meter

Blood glucose meters are useful devices for measuring blood sugar levels at all times. These devices are mainly used by people with diabetes in order to monitor harmful glycemic peaks that could damage the body, as well as to be able to know the daily progress of the status of their diabetes.

How a Blood Glucose Meter works?

In order to measure blood sugar levels, a meter needs a specific type of test strips. The test strips contain some enzymes that, when they come into contact with the blood, react with the glucose present and depending on the way they react, the meter processes a numerical value to show on its display. Because of this method of operation, each meter needs test strips specifically designed for it, as only strips specifically designed for the meter contain the exact amount of enzymes to which the meter has been calibrated; Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to use only the strips corresponding to the adopted meter, otherwise measurement errors may occur.[1]

Risks caused by using test strips that are not compatible with your Blood Glucose Meter

Using strips that are not specifically developed for your meter can lead to inaccurate measurements, and display E-3 error message. Even more, it will result in the meter not working, which can negatively affect diabetes management. In fact, incorrect measurements can lead to underestimating harmful glycemic spikes, as well as causing problems with one's drug therapy.
In the best case, the meter may not be able to read the incompatible strips, not even starting the measurement; this is the best case because in this way you are forced to use only the suitable strips. For this reason, in order to ensure accurate and reliable measurements, it is essential to use only the test strips specific to your meter, always following the instructions in the user manual of the meter or consult your doctor or pharmacist. [1][2]The use of incompatible test strips poses a serious health risk, and therefore the FDA also recommends that you be extremely careful. Learn more about FDA Choosing the correct Test Strip for a Blood Glucose Meter.

How to find the right test strips for your Blood Glucose Meter

To understand which test strips are compatible with your meter, it is a good idea to first consult the meter manual, as it should specify exactly which test strips are compatible. Consulting the manufacturer's website may also help you determine exactly which strips are compatible with the specific meter you are using; If in doubt, it is often possible to contact the manufacturer's customer service to get a correct answer. Finally, if none of these options help, all that remains is to contact your doctor or pharmacist, so as to get a safe answer from a diabetes professional. This is important because, as mentioned, you should never use measuring strips that have been designed for other meters. If this is the case, then you can be sure that the strips are compatible and the meter is working properly. As a final reminder, remember to always use measurement strips that are carefully stored and have not expired, otherwise measurement errors may occur even if the strips are compatible with the meter.[1][2]

Using strips of the same brand as your Blood Glucose Meter but different model 

Often a brand of blood glucose meters can release more than one model on the market, each with different features and functionalities based on the price range. However, not always several models belonging to the same brand adopt the same type of test strips; In fact, although the brand is the same, various models of blood glucose meters correspond to different types of test strips, for this reason it is important to pay attention not only to the brand but also to the specific model of the meter used, so as to choose the corresponding test strips. Using test strips of the same brand but developed for a different model of your meter can carry various risks such as inaccurate measurements, incorrect readings, meter malfunction, and other problems similar to those seen above. For this reason, in order to ensure accurate and reliable measurements, it is essential to use the test strips specific to the model of your blood glucose meter, and if you have any doubts, it is always a good idea to consult the customer service of your blood glucose meter, your doctor or the pharmacist. 
If you are using a Sinocare blood glucose meter, please refer to the table below to find our meters and compatible test strips.

Final Thoughts

The daily use of a blood glucose meter is certainly a good choice and also a necessity for people with diabetes, as it allows you to check how the body reacts throughout the day, and is also useful for monitoring harmful glycemic peaks. However, it is important to be careful about the type of test strips you use, as only strips that are specifically made for your meter can provide reliable and safe results. Using incompatible strips can cause inaccurate and incorrect results, thus causing evaluation risks in the management of health conditions. The FDA has also sounded the alarm about this type of danger, urging all users to be extremely careful when purchasing test strips, in order to obtain only those that have been developed for their meter. 

[1]Cristol, H. (2023, September 9). Diabetes Test Strips. Webmd. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-test-strips
[2]Fleshler, D., & Cronkleton, E. (2022, August 20). Glucose Test Strips for Diabetes: Uses, Accuracy, Cost & More. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/glucose-test-strips-diabetes-uses-accuracy-costs